Portret van Irene With met pruik 1920 - 1937

This photograph of Irene With wearing a wig was made by an anonymous photographer, and its date is unknown. The image is produced through chemical processes, a nexus of industry and darkroom craft. It is not just the click of a button, but a manipulation of light-sensitive material. Consider the textures captured: the fluffy wig, the soft pearls, the plush dress. Each of these demanded specialized modes of production. The pearls may be cultured, produced on an assembly line. The dress involved textile mills and garment workers. The wig, hand-sewn and styled. All of these elements suggest a story of labor, a supply chain that extends far beyond the sitter. While the photograph presents an image of individual style and perhaps wealth, it's also a record of collective work. In this way, it is important to consider the complex systems that bring even the simplest image into being.