Portret van een staande vrouw in Scheveningse klederdracht 1902 - 1906

Albert Frederik Kierdorff made this photograph of a woman in Scheveningen traditional dress at the turn of the century. The woman is centered, posed in front of a blank wall, and the sepia tones evoke a feeling of nostalgia. I wonder what Kierdorff was thinking when he composed this portrait? The woman's expression is neutral, but her posture is erect and proud. It's like she is making a statement about her identity and her connection to her community. The details of her clothing – the bonnet, the shawl, and the skirt, are all rendered with care. You can tell that Kierdorff was interested in capturing the details of everyday life. It reminds me a little of the work of early photographers like Eugène Atget, who documented the streets and buildings of Paris at the same time. Kierdorff and Atget were part of a generation of artists who were interested in capturing the world around them, in all its complexity and beauty. It makes me think about all the ways we try to capture and preserve our own memories and experiences today.