Portret van Catharina van Eeghen-Huidekoper (1822-1879), echtgenote van Christiaan Pieter van Eeghen c. 1860 - 1875

Wegner & Mottu captured this image of Catharina van Eeghen-Huidekoper in the mid-19th century, during a time when photography was emerging as a powerful tool for representation, particularly among the bourgeoisie. Catharina, a woman of obvious social standing, is presented through the conventions of portraiture, yet she exudes an undeniable sense of self-possession. As the wife of Christiaan Pieter van Eeghen, her identity is inevitably intertwined with her husband’s status, reflecting the era’s patriarchal structures. However, I think we can also read something more into the image. Her gaze, though composed, hints at the complexities of a woman navigating her position within a society that often confined women to specific roles. Consider the tension between the visible wealth and the potential constraints placed upon her personal expression. In a way, this image encapsulates both the privileges and the limitations of women in 19th-century Dutch society.