Who painted Portræt af frøken Niedlich og fru Schmidt?

Portræt af frøken Niedlich og fru Schmidt was painted by Unknown in 1857.

Where can I see Portræt af frøken Niedlich og fru Schmidt?

Portræt af frøken Niedlich og fru Schmidt is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

Artwork

Portræt af frøken Niedlich og fru Schmidt

Portræt af frøken Niedlich og fru Schmidt is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

The work titled Portræt af frøken Niedlich og fru Schmidt is a black‑and‑white photographic portrait dating from around 1857. It depicts a woman and a young child seated together on an ornate chair, both gazing directly at the camera. The image is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a poised adult female figure, likely a mother or guardian, alongside a child, suggesting familial intimacy. The woman's hand rests lightly on the child's shoulder, a subtle gesture that conveys a quiet bond while maintaining the formal dignity typical of mid‑nineteenth‑century portraiture.

Technique & Style

Captured in monochrome, the photograph employs careful lighting to highlight the lace detailing of the woman's dress and the simple attire of the child. The posed arrangement, balanced framing, and direct eye contact reflect the studio conventions of the era, emphasizing clarity and compositional order.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1857 by an artist identified only as 661_person, the image entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date. Its preservation within a museum dedicated to cultural artifacts underscores its value as a visual document of 19th‑century domestic representation.

Context

During the mid‑1800s, photographic portraiture began to serve both personal remembrance and ethnographic documentation. This image, with its formal pose and attention to dress, aligns with contemporary practices that recorded social status and familial roles, offering insight into the visual culture of the period.