Hendrik Waller (1887-1951) op driejarige leeftijd 1890

Pieter Oyens painted this portrait of Hendrik Waller at the tender age of three, sometime around 1890. At first glance, we see a vision of childhood innocence: rosy cheeks, a lace-trimmed pink dress, and a beloved toy horse clutched in small hands. Yet, these symbols also reflect the rigid gender expectations of the late 19th century. Consider the deliberate costuming. Is the dress an innocent garment or a projection of societal expectations onto a young boy? Oyens painted with broad strokes, rendering a certain softness, but Hendrik’s gaze holds a world of unspoken emotion, perhaps hinting at the complexities of identity formation during childhood. Ultimately, the painting serves as a reminder of the social constructs that shape us from our earliest years, subtly encouraging us to question the roles we play and the expectations we carry.