Vier jonge vrouwen op straat voor proeflokaal Koggink in de Runstraat in Amsterdam c. 1890 - 1910

This is a photograph by George Hendrik Breitner, titled "Vier jonge vrouwen op straat voor proeflokaal Koggink in de Runstraat in Amsterdam". Breitner, living in Amsterdam in the late 19th century, captured a burgeoning sense of modern life; he was interested in the daily lives of ordinary people. Here, four young women cluster on a street corner, seemingly deep in conversation, in front of a distillery. What is striking is Breitner’s interest in the rapidly shifting roles of women in Amsterdam’s society. During this period, there was a burgeoning sense of female independence, which is reflected in the image. Do the women work at the distillery, or are they simply friends meeting for an afternoon drink? What are they talking about? The photograph challenges traditional representations of women as passive or domestic figures. Instead, it presents them as active participants in the urban landscape. By focusing on the nuances of everyday life, Breitner invites us to reflect on the complexities of identity, gender, and social change during this pivotal moment in history.