Portret van An Kessler op een bank op ongeveer 3 jarige leeftijd 1880 - 1920

Woodbury & Page captured this albumen print, "Portret van An Kessler op een bank op ongeveer 3 jarige leeftijd," sometime in the late 19th century. This photograph offers a glimpse into the rigid gender expectations of the era. An Kessler, dressed in a frilly white dress and hat, embodies the innocence and purity associated with young girls. But the photograph also hints at the complexities of childhood identity. Kessler's direct gaze and the slight tension in her posture suggest a resistance to the passive role she's expected to play. The inclusion of a doll adds another layer to this narrative, highlighting the performative aspects of gender and the ways in which young girls were encouraged to embrace domesticity and motherhood. Ultimately, this portrait serves as a poignant reminder of the constraints placed upon women in the past, and the ongoing struggle for self-expression and agency.