Vrouw op een fiets achter een hek c. 1865 - 1900

This photograph, "Vrouw op een fiets achter een hek", which translates to "Woman on a bicycle behind a fence" was captured by Laurens Lodewijk Kleijn sometime between 1826 and 1909. It shows a woman on a bicycle, stopped behind a fence, set against a backdrop of tall grass and sparse trees. The image quality gives it an ethereal, dreamlike quality. Given that it was taken in the 19th century, this image encapsulates the spirit of change and the evolving role of women in society. The bicycle itself was a symbol of freedom and independence, particularly for women, offering them unprecedented mobility. The fence could symbolize the societal barriers and expectations that women were beginning to challenge and overcome. This image quietly speaks volumes about the changing landscape of gender roles, and the personal journeys of freedom and self-discovery.