Portret van een vrouw (Gelderman) after 1874

Godfried de Jong captured this photographic portrait of a woman, likely in the mid-19th century. The most striking element is the elaborate hairstyle, a twisted crown of braids and curls. This manner of presentation can be read as a symbol of status and femininity. Consider the echoes of ancient diadems and classical sculptures. Hairstyles throughout history have been a powerful medium, embodying social roles and even political statements. This coiffure, while seemingly distinct, reverberates with images of Roman empresses and Renaissance noblewomen, each carefully constructed to convey power and elegance. The portrait presents a powerful psychological element – the tension between individuality and conformity. The hairstyle dictates and signifies the subject's compliance with societal ideals. We see that the past is never truly gone; it resurfaces, transformed, in each carefully arranged curl.