Portret van een onbekende vrouw in klederdracht van Leeuwarden, Friesland 1860 - 1890

This is Andries Jager's photographic portrait of an unknown woman in Leeuwarden traditional costume. The sepia tone gives it a subdued, almost dreamlike quality. The rigid vertical stripes of her dress contrast with the soft, blurred background. The composition is divided into distinct zones by the dress. Above the waist is the head and torso, and the skirt spreads from the waist down. This structure gives an impression of stability and geometric clarity. This photographic style can be read through structuralist lenses, where clothing becomes a signifier of cultural identity. The traditional dress acts as a visual code, communicating regional and social belonging. Jager's photograph captures a moment in time, yet it also freezes a cultural artifact for scrutiny. We can see how Jager uses formal elements to convey the weight of cultural symbols and to question the boundaries between individual identity and collective representation. Art is not static but a dynamic interplay between form and meaning.