Portret van Lise Jordan met voile c. 1890 - 1895

Willem Witsen captured this photographic portrait of Lise Jordan, date unknown. Witsen’s photography offers a glimpse into the lives of women in the late 19th century. Here, the sitter’s face is partially obscured by a delicate veil, drawing our attention to the societal expectations placed on women of the time. The veil itself acts as both a physical barrier and a symbol of the restrictions imposed on women's freedom and visibility. It makes you consider the tension between revealing and concealing, and how women navigated these constraints. The soft focus and muted tones of the photograph evoke a sense of intimacy, inviting you to reflect on the complexities of female identity and representation. Witsen’s image prompts us to contemplate how women negotiated their roles within the social and cultural landscape of their time, and what that means for us today.