Portret van een vrouw 1860 - 1900

This is J. Rebreget’s "Portret van een vrouw", an undated photograph with a vertical composition. The image is characterized by a subdued palette of browns and grays, which create a somber, almost melancholic mood. The woman's dress, with its tight bodice and voluminous skirt, is rendered in great detail. The texture and patterns of the fabric are revealed in the photograph. Her posture is somewhat rigid, one hand resting on the back of a chair. The chair acts as a structural element. The vertical linearity of the chair contrasts with the roundness of the woman’s skirt. The contrast between the hard lines of the chair and the softness of the dress add to the overall visual interest of the piece. Framed by an ornate border, the photograph invites us to reflect on the formal conventions of portraiture and the semiotics of representation. The formal elements of the work underscore the constraints and expectations placed on women during this historical moment.