Portret van een meisje, staand bij een stoel met hoed 1861 - 1868

Hector de Saedeler captured this small photograph of a girl with a hat, in an unknown year, using the traditional methods of early photography. The image offers a glimpse into the rigid gender expectations of the era. Notice the child's somber expression, at odds with her dress which has a more playful pattern. The girl's posture suggests that childhood was to be seen and not heard. Is she performing an expected role? The hat, placed on the chair, introduces a performative element to the scene. This element perhaps challenges the traditional passive representation of girls. The girl's gaze, directed towards the viewer, creates a personal encounter. Does it invite us to question the nature of identity and representation, particularly of young women? Ultimately, this photograph provides a poignant look at the negotiation of identity within the confines of 19th century social norms.