Portret van Jet Boelen als kind, staand (proefkaart) c. 1880s - 1890s

Albert Greiner made this portrait of Jet Boelen as a child, likely as a sample card for his photography studio. It offers a glimpse into the world of middle-class European childhood in the late 19th century. The girl’s gaze is direct, but her posture, leaning against a faux-stone balustrade, suggests a self-consciousness that comes with being posed and observed. The class distinctions of the era are visible in the details—her dress, its style and cleanliness, and the carefully styled hair. Greiner’s work existed in a society with strict codes of conduct and gender expectations; such images played a role in shaping the era’s ideals of youth and innocence. Consider what it meant to have your picture taken in this period. Photography was becoming more accessible, yet it remained a significant event. This photograph marks a moment in Jet Boelen’s life and offers a broader reflection on childhood, memory, and representation.