Portret van Johanna Geertruida Jonker 1865 - 1890

Albert Greiner captured this ‘Portret van Johanna Geertruida Jonker’ using the albumen print technique. It’s a small window into the rigid social structure of the 19th century. The portrait presents a young girl in profile, her gaze directed away, perhaps symbolic of the limited agency afforded to women, especially young women, at the time. Her attire, while neat, speaks to a certain level of domesticity and restraint. What's striking is the contrast between Johanna's youth and the formality of the portrait; it is a reminder of the societal expectations placed on women, even in their formative years. The photograph invites us to consider the intersections of girlhood, class, and representation in the 1800s. It encapsulates a moment of imposed stillness and reflection on the silent narratives of women whose stories are often untold.