Portret van een jonge vrouw c. 1890 - 1910

Johannes Leonardus van der Heijden captured this carte-de-visite, or visiting card photograph of a young woman. These small portraits were a popular and affordable way to document and share images of oneself and loved ones. In this portrait, the woman's direct gaze and tailored jacket offer a sense of self-possession. Yet, the soft focus and muted tones evoke a sense of melancholic introspection. During the late 19th century, women navigated a complex web of societal expectations, balancing desires for personal expression with the constraints of gender roles. The tailored jacket she is wearing may be indicative of a desire to assert herself in a male-dominated society. Ultimately, this image embodies a tension between public presentation and private identity, inviting us to consider the nuances of womanhood during a time of social change. It evokes a sense of quiet determination, a refusal to be simply defined.