Stilleven met diverse attributen c. 1852

Eduard Isaac Asser created this still life photograph with various props using an early photographic technique, likely a calotype or albumen print. Asser, a lawyer by trade, was deeply involved in the emerging world of photography in the mid-19th century. This arrangement, with its collection of decorative objects, speaks to the cultural values of the time, reflecting the domestic sphere and the importance of material possessions in constructing identity. Still life as a genre has historically been associated with ideas of mortality and vanitas. Yet here, the objects seem to be more about display and taste. The floral arrangement, the ornate vase, and the decorative table covering create a sense of bourgeois comfort and order. Asser's personal life, as a man of Jewish heritage in a rapidly changing European society, may have influenced his attraction to the still life genre as a way to explore themes of permanence and beauty in a world undergoing significant social and political shifts. The photograph invites us to consider the complex relationship between personal identity, cultural values, and artistic expression in the 19th century.