Portret van een jonge vrouw 1865 - 1903

This is a portrait of a young woman made by De Lavieter & Co., captured through the lens of early photography. Although the exact date eludes us, the fashion and style depicted root this image in a time when societal expectations for women were undergoing significant change. The woman's gaze, directed just off-center, suggests a departure from the demure, passive portrayals of women common in earlier portraiture. We see hints of a burgeoning sense of self, an assertion of identity in a world that was beginning to offer new possibilities for women. The ornate detailing of her dress and jewelry speak to the constraints of class and gender, while her direct gaze hints at a desire to look beyond these constraints. This photograph offers a poignant reflection on the thresholds of identity, inviting us to consider the complex interplay between societal norms and individual aspirations. It captures a moment in which a young woman stands poised between tradition and the promise of a more expansive future.