Portret van een onbekende vrouw met parelketting 1877

G. Laguesse created this small print of an unknown woman, using engraving. Prints like this one were common in the 19th century, offering a window into the social conventions of the time. The woman's averted gaze and delicate features create an aura of refinement, in line with the period's emphasis on women’s virtue and domesticity. The pearl necklace and elaborate hairstyle denote a certain social status, reflecting the rigid class structures prevalent in 19th century Europe. It is interesting to consider how gender and class were performed through fashion and portraiture in this era. To fully understand the print's cultural significance, further research into 19th-century fashion and social history would be invaluable. It is by looking at these social and institutional contexts that we gain a richer understanding of the role of art in reflecting and shaping its own time.