Portret van een zittende baby met bloem in de hand 1892 - 1906

This is a photograph of a seated baby holding a flower, captured by Machiel Hendricus Laddé. Laddé, who lived from 1866 to 1932, worked during a time of significant social change. Reflect on what it meant to capture a child's image then. The baby, dressed in a frilly white dress, sits atop what appears to be a fur rug, gazing directly at the camera. The flower, a delicate detail, softens the formality of the portrait. Consider how gender and class are subtly presented here. The choice of clothing and the studio setting hint at a middle-class upbringing, while the baby's androgynous appearance invites questions about early gender socialization. The photograph exists as both a personal memento and a cultural artifact, reflecting societal values around childhood and representation. It invites us to reflect on the gaze, innocence, and constructed identities.