Portret van een vrouw met pijpenkrullen en halsketting met medaillon 1856 - 1889

Curator: Up next we have, “Portret van een vrouw met pijpenkrullen en halsketting met medaillon,” which translates to "Portrait of a Woman with Pipe Curls and Necklace with Medallion." It is a gelatin-silver print, dating somewhere between 1856 and 1889. Editor: Wow, it's so...contained, almost severe. Her expression doesn't give anything away, and that dark dress and those tight curls just amplify this feeling of formality. Curator: Absolutely, these studio portraits from the mid-to-late 19th century often project an air of stoicism. Consider the societal pressures on women during that era – their roles were carefully defined and often restricted. Do you think that plays into how we see her portrayed here? Editor: Definitely. She’s presenting a certain image, playing a role. But I wonder about the person *underneath* that performance, you know? I almost feel a rebelliousness in the way a lock of hair has escaped her 'perfect' do, like a quiet act of defiance! It adds a bit of mystery, wouldn't you say? Curator: An interesting take! The materiality of the gelatin silver print itself is something to note too. The way it captures light and shadow impacts the meaning. I believe the sitter may have had to sit very still, for an extended exposure, during the ambrotype. So her forced placidity perhaps reflects something of a struggle between control and self-expression. We also shouldn't ignore the power dynamics inherent in the act of portraiture at this time. Editor: Hmm, the photographer trying to control, to immortalize the woman with light. Is this like capturing a soul on a glass plate? Deep. This print really does encourage me to look beneath the surface! There is so much more going on beyond just a simple photograph. Curator: Indeed. And in a way, perhaps her very presence here defies those original constraints, sparking dialogues about representation, power, and identity even now. Editor: Thanks, seeing this through the historical lens you are casting really made me change my point of view. I leave with a new appreciation.