Portret van Toos Schoor 1898 - 1919

This is a portrait of Toos Schoor by H.C. de Graaff. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw photography gaining traction as a medium, especially for portraiture. Looking at Toos, we might consider the image as more than just a representation. The formal attire, the deliberate pose; these aspects speak to a certain societal expectation and perhaps, personal aspiration. As a woman during this period, Toos's identity was often framed by social conventions. This image could be seen as a negotiation between private identity and public presentation. In many ways, portraits like this offer a lens through which we can reflect on the representation of women and their roles in society at the time. They invite us to consider the complex interplay between identity, representation, and societal expectations, resonating with the ongoing dialogues about gender, identity, and representation today.