Portret van een staande vrouw met fotoalbum in de hand bij een tafel 1880 - 1920

Charles van Boghout captured this image of a standing woman with a photo album. The photograph offers a glimpse into the conventions of portraiture and the representation of women in the late 19th or early 20th century. Her posture and attire reflect the era's ideals of feminine grace and domesticity. Consider how the woman is framed— both within the photograph and within the social expectations of her time. The photo album she holds symbolizes memory, family history, and personal identity, elements carefully curated and presented to the world. It reflects the societal emphasis on women as keepers of familial narratives. Boghout's portrait invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between personal identity, cultural expectations, and photographic representation. It reminds us that every image, like every life, is shaped by the stories we tell ourselves and the stories others tell about us.