Portret van een onbekend meisje met haar armen over een opengeslagen boek 1895 - 1908

This is a portrait of an unknown girl with her arms over an open book by E. v.d. Kerkhoff. The sepia tones create a sense of nostalgia and the subject's gaze is both direct and slightly melancholic, inviting contemplation on her inner world. The composition is carefully structured, with the book acting as a horizontal anchor across the frame, and the girl positioned centrally. The soft light gently models her features and clothes, emphasizing the texture of her ruffled sleeves and the subtle details of her jewelry. The book becomes a signifier, representing knowledge, intellect and perhaps the gateway to other worlds. In a broader art context, portraits like this one reflect how photography can be understood through the lens of semiotics. The sitter presents herself through dress and posture, offering visual cues that communicate social standing, aspirations, and identity. Kerkhoff's portrait invites us to consider not only the individual, but also the cultural codes embedded in this form of representation. This challenges fixed meanings, encouraging new interpretations of identity, representation and the photographic medium.