Portret van een onbekende vrouw c. 1875 - 1920

Alexandre, a photographer active between 1855 and 1925, captured this portrait of an unknown woman in a carte de visite. Encased within an oval vignette, the subject's face is cast in a three-quarter view, her gaze directed towards the left, creating a composition that's both intimate and slightly aloof. The sepia tones dominate, softened through a deliberate manipulation of light and shadow. The textures are rich; from the delicate lace at her collar to the velvet bow in her hair, each element is rendered with a tangible sense of depth. The photograph itself becomes a signifier of its era, reflecting broader social codes and aesthetic preferences. Yet, within these constraints, Alexandre manages to capture a sense of individuality, suggesting that even within the rigid conventions of portraiture, the essence of a person can be subtly conveyed. It invites us to contemplate the interplay between visibility and concealment inherent in the act of representation.