Portret van Miele van Kerckhoff met kat before 1894

Hendrik Herman van den Berg captured this portrait of Miele van Kerckhoff with her cat in a photograph. The cat, a domestic tabby, is held protectively, almost presented. Consider the cat, an animal that, since ancient Egypt, has swung between deity and devil. Often associated with feminine wiles and nocturnal activities, it embodies independence and mystery. The act of holding it—displaying its tamed yet untamed spirit—mirrors a dance of control and surrender. The portrait becomes a study of womanhood, where Miele both embodies and confronts these symbolic complexities. Such images tap into our collective memories, conjuring feelings of intimacy, control, and the eternal enigmatic nature of both woman and animal. This photograph isn't merely a record, but a spark igniting a perennial cultural dialogue.