Portret van een vrouw met halsketting 1888 - 1907

Sander van der Zijl made this photographic portrait of a woman with a necklace, likely in the Netherlands, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This type of studio portrait was becoming increasingly common among the middle classes, as photography became more accessible and affordable. Looking at the woman's attire, her high-necked dress and simple jewelry, we can infer something about her social standing and the values of the time. The emphasis on modesty and decorum in dress reflects the prevailing social norms of the era. But who was she? And what was her relationship to the photographer? To understand this image fully, we would need to delve into the archives, examining census records, local histories, and perhaps even the photographer's own business records. Only then can we begin to piece together the social and institutional context that shaped both the creation and the reception of this intriguing portrait.