Portret van een staande vrouw 1854 - 1875

This photograph, "Portret van een staande vrouw," was produced by The London School of Photography, a commercial photography studio popular in the nineteenth century. The photograph captures a woman in a large checkered dress, posed formally next to an ornate table. In this era, photography was still a relatively new medium, and portraiture became a powerful tool for self-representation, particularly for the burgeoning middle class. Consider the subject's pose, the carefully chosen dress, and the presence of books on the table; each detail speaks to the sitter's desire to present herself in a specific light, likely emphasizing her respectability, education, and social standing. These images offer a window into the aspirations and self-fashioning of individuals navigating a rapidly changing world. In a time when gender roles were clearly defined, this portrait encapsulates the complexities of female identity, somewhere between societal expectations and personal expression. The woman’s gaze and posture communicate both constraint and a quiet sense of self-assurance.