Portret van een vrouw c. 1860 - 1875

This is a portrait of a woman by Andrews & Son, its date unknown, rendered with the photographic techniques of its time. Observe the subject's averted gaze; it is a symbol of modesty, but also perhaps a hint of melancholy, echoing poses seen in earlier devotional images of saints or the Virgin. This motif, seen across centuries, evokes contemplation. Yet, here, the rise of photography democratizes it. The neatly arranged hair atop the woman's head, restrained and elegant, suggests order and social conformity; a kind of ‘Apollonian’ ideal of control and propriety. This image, a product of its time, captures the aspirations and anxieties of a society grappling with modernity, constantly seeking order in a world of change. The symbolism in photography evolves with modernity, reflecting societal shifts.