Portret van een vrouw c. 1854 - 1855

This is Eduard Isaac Asser's "Portret van een vrouw," currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, though its exact creation date remains unknown. Asser, born in 1809, lived through a period of immense social change. His portraits often depicted members of the upper and middle classes and this image invites us to consider the gendered roles of the time. What was it to be a woman in this era? This photograph freezes her in time, a representative of a particular class and social standing. Her attire speaks of propriety, yet the absence of distinct personal details leaves us longing to uncover her individual story. What narratives are subtly suggested, and what stories remain untold? In its quiet way, this image encourages us to reflect on the complex interplay of identity, representation, and the enduring search for individual recognition.