Portret van een vrouw met een hoed c. 1913 - 1914

This is a photograph titled 'Portret van een vrouw met een hoed' or 'Portrait of a Woman with a Hat' by American Automatic Photography, currently held in the Rijksmuseum. The sepia tones and the sitter's direct gaze draw us into a space of quiet contemplation, while the composition—neatly framed around the subject—suggests a formality typical of early portraiture. The hat, casting shadows, introduces a play of light and dark, adding depth to the otherwise flat plane. Note the contrast between the soft curves of the hat and the more angular lines of her coat, which guide our eyes across the image and create a subtle visual rhythm. The photograph engages with semiotics. Consider the hat as a signifier of status or identity, and the gaze as a means of asserting presence. The formal qualities of the photograph destabilize the traditional function of portraiture. The woman is not uniquely presented but she’s presented as one of many subjects from a photo booth on the street. This suggests that the artwork is not only a visual form but also a cultural and philosophical statement.