Twee portretten van Margaretha Fehim Pascha en een portret van Emmy Wehlen 1900 - 1930

Here we see three portraits of Margaretha Fehim Pascha and Emmy Wehlen, mounted together, their maker remains unknown to us. These images, dating back to an era when photography was transforming portraiture, offer a glimpse into the performance of identity, particularly for women in the public eye. Consider these women, dressed in elaborate costumes and oversized hats. This was a period where the construction of femininity was literally a high art. The fashion of the time emphasized the artificial, reflecting a society deeply invested in outward appearances and social roles. These portraits, while seemingly straightforward, reveal a complex interplay of gender, class, and performance. Were these women merely embodying the era's ideals, or were they consciously crafting their own narratives? The use of photography, then still relatively new, democratized portraiture, but also introduced new modes of representation. How did these images shape perceptions, and how did these women use photography to shape their own identities?