Portret van een staande vrouw 1870 - 1880

This is a portrait of a standing woman by Benjamin van der Heide. Though the date of the image is unknown, Van der Heide was active in the latter half of the 19th century, when photography was becoming increasingly accessible. During this time, the rise of the middle class created a demand for portraiture, especially of women, which served to reinforce prevailing notions of femininity and domesticity. But let's think about this woman. She stands with a self-assuredness that defies traditional representations of women in the Victorian era, a time defined by rigid social norms and expectations of female passivity. She presents herself, and the photographer captures her image, outside the domestic sphere, signaling a shift in the narrative of female identity. Consider how photography democratized portraiture, providing a new medium for self-expression and identity formation, especially for those whose stories were often marginalized. This image invites us to reflect on the changing roles of women in society, and the emotional power of capturing one's own likeness.