Portret van een vrouw, staand bij een balustrade 1860 - 1900

G.A. Stamm captured this portrait of a woman standing by a balustrade, a photographic marvel of its time. Consider the historical context; photography in the 19th century was a burgeoning field, offering new ways to document and represent identity. Here we see a woman presented with a certain level of formality, indicative of the era's social norms. The subject's posture, dress, and the setting, all point towards a careful construction of identity. The balustrade acts as a prop to convey social standing, while her modest yet elegant attire reflects the gendered expectations of the time. What does it mean for a woman to be seen and to present herself in this carefully constructed manner? While seemingly conventional, this portrait captures a moment of self-assertion within the confines of societal expectations. This image therefore becomes a complex negotiation between personal expression and cultural norms.