Portret van mevrouw Cuypers 1850 - 1899

Wegner & Mottu created this portrait of Mrs. Cuypers as an albumen print. This photograph offers a window into the representation of women in the 19th century, when their identities were often framed by domestic roles and social expectations. The sitter's subdued expression and clothing reflect the period's emphasis on modesty and restraint, but is that the full picture? The portrait invites us to consider how women navigated these societal constraints. Did they internalize them, challenge them, or carve out spaces of autonomy and self-expression? As a piece of visual culture, this portrait embodies many contradictions. It is a reminder of the complex interplay between individual agency and social norms. The portrait allows us to reflect on the legacies of those representations, and on the ongoing project of redefining and reclaiming female identity today.