Portret van Hector Treub 1896 - 1906

Theodorus Henricus Kerstel created this portrait of Dr. Hector Treub using graphite around 1926. Treub, a gynaecologist, advanced the fight for women's rights to contraception and abortion in the Netherlands. Consider the gaze in this portrait: averted and directed towards the left, a visual metaphor perhaps, for Treub's progressive leanings. In the early 20th century, the Dutch government actively suppressed information about contraception, and abortion was illegal. Treub openly defied these restrictions, advocating for women’s autonomy over their bodies. In 1907 he co-founded the first birth control clinic in the Netherlands. Kerstel's portrait captures the essence of a man who dared to challenge societal norms. It reflects the shifting landscape of gender politics and reproductive rights during a time of significant social change. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for bodily autonomy and the courage of those who advocate for it.