Portret van een staand meisje met een waaier bij tafel 1855 - 1865

Jean Barberon created this portrait of a standing girl with a fan by a table. The photograph captures a young girl during an era of strict social codes and emerging photographic technologies. Notice the girl's formal attire: a dark, voluminous dress. Her dress and carefully styled hair reflect the values placed on appearance and propriety during this time. The fan she holds and the ornate table beside her are symbols of sophistication and status, but the girl's expression seems distant. Is this because of the long exposure time required for early photography or might her inner life stray from the performance of outward elegance? This portrait provides a glimpse into the complex intersection of identity, class, and representation in the 19th century, inviting us to reflect on the lives and experiences of young women during this period.