Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1868 - 1900

Hermanus Jodocus Weesing, an Amsterdam-based photographer, created this small portrait of an unknown woman. In the late 19th century, women's identities were often framed by societal expectations and gender roles. Consider the limitations placed on women during this time. The photograph shows a woman whose name and story are lost, yet her image remains. This piece captures a moment in her life, a life lived under specific cultural constraints. Photography provided a means of preserving likeness, but who was deemed worthy of such preservation? The sitter’s anonymity speaks volumes about the historical erasure of women's individual identities. It prompts us to reflect on the countless untold stories and experiences of women whose names have been forgotten.