Portret van Elise Hwasser 1850 - 1890

This is a photograph of Elise Hwasser by Matheus Hansen. In the 19th century, photography was a new medium, and portraiture offered a way to record and disseminate images of individuals. The sitter, Elise Hwasser, was likely part of a social milieu in which such portraits were a sign of status and cultural capital. Looking at the image, we can see how it creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. The subject is dressed in a gown, styled hair, and jewelry. Made in Sweden at a time of shifting social and political conditions, such images were often used to reinforce social hierarchies. Photographs like these are important historical documents for understanding social structures and values. By researching archives, letters, and other historical sources, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and institutional contexts in which art is made. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.