Portret van een zittende vrouw met boek 1860 - 1900

This is a small photograph, just 80 by 52 mm, showing a seated woman holding a book, attributed to the photographer Victor. The sepia tones create a somber mood, emphasizing the sitter’s dark dress and serious expression. The composition is carefully framed. The oval border around the image isolates the woman, drawing attention to her posture and the items she holds. Her placement is balanced yet slightly off-center, creating a subtle tension. This photograph functions as a sign, a visual marker of identity and status within its cultural context. The book, for instance, serves as a signifier of literacy and intellectual engagement, while her dress reflects the sartorial codes of the time. Ultimately, the photograph’s formal qualities—its tones, composition, and framing—work together to communicate a sense of restrained dignity. It reflects the photographic conventions of its era. It also invites us to consider how such portraits were used to construct and convey social identities.