Portret van Betje van Ammers 1880 - 1906

Willem Gerhardus Kuijer made this portrait of Betje van Ammers, a photo on cardboard, in the late 19th century. This piece offers a glimpse into the visual culture and social norms of the time. The photograph captures van Ammers in a traditional Dutch cap, her expression suggesting both a sense of dignity and perhaps a hint of the constraints placed upon women in that era. The details of her clothing, from the striped fabric to the modest buttons, speak to the values of simplicity and practicality often associated with middle-class life. Kuijer, operating his studio in Amsterdam, would have been catering to a clientele eager to capture their likeness in the latest photographic style. This portrait, then, is not just an individual likeness but a reflection of societal expectations and the performance of identity within a specific cultural context. It invites us to consider the roles individuals played and the stories they silently carried.