Portret van een vrouw in kostuum 1865 - 1894

This is Constantin Schwendler's photograph, "Portrait of a Woman in Costume." It's difficult to say when this photo was taken, but the sitter's androgynous presentation is striking, particularly because it invites a dialogue between performance and identity. Looking at the image, consider how the woman's attire, a costume, allows her to perform a role, perhaps challenging societal expectations of gender. Is the costume liberating or confining? What does it mean to dress, or pose, as someone else? In what ways does this performance shape or reflect societal issues of gender and identity? How does it feel?