Portret van een staande jonge vrouw met paraplu 1880 - 1920

This photographic portrait, by O. Tippmann, features a young woman with an umbrella, captured in a frame measuring just 85 by 51 millimeters. The sepia tones lend an antique feel, emphasizing the subject's dress and the soft gradations of light across the backdrop. Consider the composition: the subject is centrally placed, holding a dark umbrella that contrasts with her light blouse. Her positioning is more than just aesthetic; the umbrella acts as a structural element, dividing the pictorial space and directing the viewer's gaze. The framing itself, with its arched top, recalls architectural motifs, adding another layer to the composition. The photograph operates within a semiotic system; the umbrella, clothing, and even the woman's hairstyle all carry cultural codes about gender, class, and identity. It invites us to decode these elements, questioning how such visual signifiers function within the society of its time. Notice how the framing creates a sense of enclosure, yet the gaze of the young woman directs outward. This interplay between containment and outreach is a fascinating formal quality that challenges us to consider the evolving roles and representations of women.