Portret van een vrouw met boek in de hand, aangeduid als Miss Sievers 1848 - 1868

This is a portrait of a woman with a book, presumed to be Miss Sievers, made by Johan Hendrik Hoffmeister. It is a small print with a subdued palette of sepia tones, giving it a sense of intimacy and historical distance. Hoffmeister plays with compositional structure, using the book as a focal point held by the sitter, whose gaze meets ours, engaging us directly. The woman’s plaid shawl introduces a pattern that contrasts with the smooth, almost porcelain-like treatment of her skin and the simple lines of her dress. This photograph is not just a record of appearance, but also a statement about the sitter's character, hinting at intellect and contemplation. The visual language of the portrait, with its carefully arranged elements, invites us to consider the relationship between representation, identity, and the silent narratives embedded within the photographic form.