Portret van een kloosterzuster met kap, rozenkrans en kruisbeeld om de nek, staand bij een crucifix op een sokkel c. 1860 - 1870

This is a portrait photograph by Théodor Weijnen of a nun, likely taken in the late 19th century. The sepia tones and aged texture give the image a soft, melancholic quality. The composition is divided vertically, with the nun on the right and a crucifix on a pedestal to the left, balancing the frame. The nun's habit and the crucifix function as signs, encoding themes of devotion and spiritual commitment. The textures—the smoothness of her face against the coarse fabric of her habit—create a visual contrast that draws the viewer's eye. The crucifix, both as an object within the image and a symbol, raises questions about representation and belief. The photograph's material presence also invites consideration, with its aged surface reminding us of its existence as an object of history. The symmetry and balance in this portrait, coupled with the somber tones, create a sense of contemplative stillness. The photograph acts as a cultural artifact, reflecting the values and beliefs of its time while also posing enduring questions about faith and identity.