Portret van een zittende vrouw met boek 1875 - 1877

Bernardus Bruining captured this photographic portrait of a seated woman holding a book sometime in the 19th century. During this period, photography served as a powerful tool for shaping and reflecting societal norms. The woman, dressed in dark, modest clothing, embodies the era's emphasis on decorum and domesticity. Her attire, typical of middle-class women, subtly underscores the constraints and expectations placed on women's identities at the time. The book she holds could symbolize knowledge, piety, or leisure, each suggesting a different facet of her identity. The portrait invites us to consider the complex intersections of gender, class, and intellectual life in the 1800s. Consider this image not just as a representation of an individual, but as a reflection on the broader narratives of women's roles and identities in the 19th century. What does it mean to have your portrait taken and what does it mean to hold a book in that portrait?