Portret van een onbekende naakte vrouw in venster 1911 - 1970

This is a photograph of an unidentified, nude woman in a window, taken by Ernest J. Bellocq sometime in the early 20th century. Bellocq was working in Storyville, New Orleans, the city's red-light district. The woman’s direct gaze and slight smile challenge the voyeuristic dynamic typically associated with nude photography. We might think about the power dynamics at play, and how they relate to gender, class, and social status. The women of Storyville were sex workers who operated in a liminal space of social acceptance and marginalization. Bellocq’s photographs, which were largely unknown during his lifetime, offer a glimpse into the lives of women who were often rendered invisible or hyper-visible in society. There's a tenderness here, a sense of connection between photographer and subject that transcends the commercial transaction that would have defined their encounter. This image invites us to reflect on the complexities of human relationships, the negotiation of power, and the search for dignity in the face of societal constraints.