Portret van een onbekende jonge vrouw Possibly 1912 - 1919

This small photograph, *Portret van een onbekende jonge vrouw*, captures an anonymous woman through the lens of Electrische Snelfotografie. The image, defined by its monochrome palette, centers on the subject's face, framed by a large, elaborate hat that dominates the composition. The photograph is a study in contrasts. The softness of the hat and the sitter's features are set against the sharp lines of her attire, while the background is a blur. This interplay of soft and sharp elements emphasizes the photograph's geometric structure, pushing it toward abstraction despite its representational subject. The semiotic value of this image lies in its cultural coding. The woman’s attire and the hat, act as signs of her social status and era, alluding to early photography's role in constructing and preserving identity. Note how this small, mass-produced photograph challenges notions of portraiture, inviting us to question the construction of identity through photography.