Portret van een meisje met pop, staand bij een balustrade 1888 - 1907

Adrianus van der Grient made this small photograph of a girl with a doll, but we don’t know when. It captures a particular moment in the social construction of childhood. The child stands stiffly, formally posed, next to an ornate balustrade, holding a doll. Both girl and doll wear dark shoes and light dresses, and seem to be trying to imitate the expected behaviors of women. At this time, photography was becoming increasingly popular. The Dutch middle class embraced this technology as a way to solidify their social standing. Photography was an expensive undertaking, so having one's picture taken advertised the sitter’s social status. This photographic portrait is more than just an image, it’s a social document. Understanding this image requires us to look at the history of childhood, photography, and the rising middle class in the Netherlands. By researching these areas, we gain insight into the social and cultural values of the time.