Portret van Dieuwertje Kramer 1883 - 1910

This is a photograph titled ‘Portret van Dieuwertje Kramer’ by Johannes Laurens Theodorus Huijsen. In this small portrait, the young Dieuwertje sits on an ornate cushion, looking directly at the viewer. The photograph, with its soft focus and gentle lighting, reflects the sentimental conventions of late 19th-century portraiture, where childhood was often idealized as a time of innocence. Yet, in Dieuwertje’s steady gaze, we might detect more than simple innocence. What does it mean to be presented for the male gaze at such a young age? Huijsen, a photographer based in Hoorn, captured not just an image, but also a moment imbued with the complex social values of his time. The choice of clothing, the pose, and the very act of creating a formal portrait speak to the cultural emphasis on representation and identity, even in infancy. How do such early presentations shape our understanding of ourselves and others?