Portret van J.G. Boelen en Ch. A. Boelen-Matthes, beiden verkleed 1865 - 1892

This small photograph shows J.G. Boelen and Ch. A. Boelen-Matthes in costume, captured by an anonymous photographer. The act of dressing up transforms identity and the social expectations that come with it. Here, we see a couple engaging in a form of play that simultaneously reinforces and challenges the rigid gender roles of their time. He is dressed in what seems to be a more masculine, perhaps military-inspired costume, while she is in a floral dress with a feathered hat. This could be read as a simple masquerade. However, it also offers a glimpse into the performance of identity, where clothing and pose become tools for exploring alternate selves. What do they feel in these clothes? Are they free? Do they feel empowered or constrained by the roles they temporarily inhabit? This image invites us to reflect on the ways we, too, perform our identities and the unspoken rules that govern these performances.