Portret van een onbekende vrouw before 1898

This book features two portraits of women by Alex Braudt Malmo. These images, despite their small size, offer a glimpse into the constructed nature of femininity and the performance of identity within the visual culture of their time. Consider the implications of depicting women in such a stylized manner. These portraits encourage us to reflect on how women were perceived, valued, and represented in society. Is this a reflection of empowerment, or does it confine the subjects within the aesthetic norms of the time? The composition prompts us to consider the societal expectations placed on women to embody beauty, grace, and virtue. It’s a moment to question whether these images reinforce or challenge the status quo. These women and how they wanted to be seen—what stories are embedded in their gaze, their posture, their adornments?