Portret van drie vrouwen 1880 - 1900

This is Philippe Abel’s “Portret van drie vrouwen”, a photograph mounted in an album. In the 19th century, portraiture was increasingly democratized through photography, allowing for a wider representation of society. The women here are dressed in modest, dark, long-sleeved dresses, adorned with subtle necklaces, their hair neatly pulled back under white caps. Their attire and posture suggest middle-class status and adherence to conservative social norms. The photograph provides insight into the era's emphasis on propriety and the limited roles prescribed to women. The photograph's dimensions are quite small, but it captures a sense of intimacy. The women's expressions are reserved, perhaps hinting at the constraints placed on female expression at the time. The act of posing together signifies their relationships and social bonds, offering a glimpse into their personal lives within a society that often marginalized women's experiences. In viewing this image, consider how the women might have felt presenting themselves to the camera, aware of the social expectations and norms that shaped their identities.