Portret van een staande actrice in middeleeuwse toneeldracht 1890 - 1920

Editor: This albumen print, "Portret van een staande actrice in middeleeuwse toneeldracht" – or "Portrait of a standing actress in medieval theatrical costume" – by H.C. de Graaff, dates between 1890 and 1920. The actress’s expression seems to hint at the complex position of women at the turn of the century. How would you interpret that? Curator: The albumen print offers a compelling glimpse into late 19th and early 20th century anxieties surrounding gender, performance, and representation. The photograph's emphasis on the subject's costume gestures towards the construction of identity. Given this performance of the ‘medieval’, could we see her costuming as a reclamation of agency within restrictive gender roles of the time, or perhaps, a means to comment on historical power dynamics? Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn’t considered how costuming might speak to agency. Do you see the ‘japonisme’ tag as connected to your interpretation? Curator: Absolutely. Japonisme influenced a rethinking of aesthetics. The emphasis on the ephemeral, and decorative—while often orientalist—did encourage a fluidity of gender roles in artistic spaces, enabling women, even if briefly, to transgress norms within these crafted environments. What’s your take? Editor: It's a really nuanced perspective – and an encouragement to look beyond surface impressions of beauty or "historical accuracy”. It gives a way to approach the piece that feels very grounded, beyond just aesthetics. Curator: Agreed, approaching historical art from intersectional and activist-aware perspectives, brings forth stories often left unheard. This method expands our comprehension, making art ever-relevant.