Man en vrouw op een brug 1879

"Man en vrouw op een brug" is a stereoscopic photograph by Sophus Williams, made in Berlin in 1879. At first glance, we are presented with what appears to be a conventional scene of a man and woman on a bridge. But consider the context of 19th-century gender roles: the woman, with her fashionable dress and parasol, embodies the era’s expectations of feminine elegance, while the man, perhaps a soldier, represents masculine duty. This image invites us to question the dynamics of their relationship and the societal expectations that defined their interactions. Are they equals, or are they bound by the rigid social structures of their time? Williams’s photograph offers a nuanced commentary on identity, inviting us to reflect on the complexities of gender, class, and the silent narratives embedded within a seemingly simple scene.