Portret van een jonge vrouw met muts, gelijkend op Friese kap 1874 - 1878

This small portrait of a young woman in a bonnet, resembling a Frisian cap, was produced as an albumen print, likely in the Netherlands. The image speaks to the rise of photography as a tool for documenting and circulating images of regional identity. Consider the cultural significance of the Frisian cap, a traditional piece of clothing, and how its display in a photographic portrait constructs and reinforces a sense of regional belonging. The act of commissioning such a portrait would also have been influenced by economic factors, suggesting the sitter’s access to disposable income. As historians, we can analyze such images not only for their aesthetic qualities but also as valuable sources of information about the social, economic, and cultural contexts in which they were produced. Through careful examination, we can uncover the complex interplay of identity, representation, and social structures in the past.