Portret van een vrouw met een hoed en paraplu, zittend c. 1860 - 1874

This photograph, made by Cornelis Johannes Dirksen, captures a seated woman with a hat and umbrella. While the artwork’s date is unknown, the subject's clothing and the photographic style suggest it was made in the Netherlands during the mid-19th century, a period marked by rapid industrialization and evolving social norms. The photograph likely reflects the values of the Dutch middle class. The subject is formally dressed, with a high-necked dress, a decorative hat and a parasol, reflecting a sense of propriety. It’s worth asking whether the image suggests aspirations of social mobility? Did the sitter intend to project a sense of refined elegance? The studio backdrop hints at an idealized landscape, perhaps a subtle nod to a desire for upward mobility. By examining historical fashion trends, and photographic studio practices of the time, we can better understand how this image functions as a cultural artifact. What does it tell us about the subject's place in society, or about the complex relationship between self-representation and social expectations in 19th-century Netherlands?