Portret van een vrouw met waaier en boek 1856 - 1880

This is a photographic 'Portret van een vrouw met waaier en boek' by Moliné y Albareda, a small portrait with dimensions of 86 by 52 millimetres. The photograph is dominated by the figure of a woman in a large dress, posed beside a table. The subdued tonality of the image creates a formal and somewhat reserved atmosphere. Structurally, the portrait is intriguing. The woman's dress, with its voluminous skirt, contrasts sharply with the geometric lines of the table and the book. The arrangement creates a visual interplay between organic and structured forms. Semiotically, the book and fan might signify intellect and refinement, cultural codes of the sitter’s social standing. The photograph’s limited palette invites us to consider how subtle variations in tone and texture function. The composition and the sitter’s static pose also raise questions about the conventions of portraiture at the time, inviting considerations of representation and identity. Ultimately, the artwork prompts reflection on the interplay between form and meaning, inviting us to engage with its cultural context.