Borstbeeld van een vrouw c. 1865 - 1900

This is Laurens Lodewijk Kleijn’s photographic study, "Bust of a Woman," made sometime between 1826 and 1909. Kleijn lived and worked during a time of enormous social change, particularly for women. During the 19th century, women's identities were largely shaped by societal expectations. The visual arts often placed women within idealized roles such as mother, caregiver, and muse. Kleijn’s bust deviates, to some extent, from these conventional representations. The woman’s gaze is directed slightly downward, imparting a sense of humility or introspection. She has a wreath on her head, perhaps a reference to classical figures. Kleijn captures her likeness with a certain solemnity. The photograph opens a window into the evolving role of women during the late 19th century. This photograph is not just a portrait, but a statement about identity, representation, and the shifting dynamics of a society on the cusp of modernity.