Vrouw in regionale klederdracht c. 1848 - 1853

Bernard Romain Julien created this print, “Woman in Regional Costume,” sometime in the 19th century using lithography. It’s a portrait of a woman adorned in what was considered traditional local garb, a visual categorization common during that time. The image presents the sitter in an orientalist manner, which was a common European practice of depicting people from the Middle East and Asia. These depictions often played into stereotypes, casting them as exotic or mysterious "others." The woman’s gaze is averted, and she seems lost in thought. Notice her fur-lined robe, jewelry, and the fabric wrapped around her head. These visual cues construct an identity, yet they also reinforce the idea of the ‘foreign’ woman. What happens when identities are packaged and consumed as exotic commodities? How does this affect one's understanding of cultural identity and self-worth?