Portret van een vrouw met een kanten muts en een halsketting 1873 - 1878

J.J. Geels created this photographic portrait of a woman with lace and a necklace in the Netherlands, most likely sometime in the mid-to-late 19th century. In this period, the rise of photography democratized portraiture, yet it also reinforced existing social hierarchies. The woman's attire, a simple lace bonnet and modest necklace, suggests a middle-class status, reflecting the emerging bourgeoisie in the Netherlands at that time. The photograph's composition—a straightforward, unembellished depiction—speaks to the cultural values of the era, which emphasized restraint and respectability. Examining Dutch social history during the 19th century can help us better understand how individuals sought to represent themselves through this new medium. Resources like census records, fashion archives, and studies of Dutch middle-class culture can offer insight into the meanings conveyed by this image and the social context that shaped its creation.