Groepsportret van zes jonge vrouwen rond een tafel in een tuin 1864 - 1879

This albumen print, made by Leonard de Koningh, depicts six young women in a garden. While undated, we can assume that it was made sometime in the mid-19th century, based on the photographic process. The image speaks to several shifts happening in Dutch society at the time. As the middle class grew, so did the demand for portraiture, creating new markets and opportunities for artists. Photography studios became a hallmark of urban centers. This image would have served as a status symbol, demonstrating the sitters' wealth and social standing, and perhaps acting as a memento of their friendship. Photographs like this were often kept in albums. By researching the clothing, hairstyles, and the conventions of photography at the time, historians can learn much more about the social context and the institutional history of photography in the Netherlands.