Portret van een vrouw 1868

This photograph, titled ‘Portret van een vrouw’ was made by W. van Uije Wzn. The subject is portrayed holding a book, which may signify her literacy and education. This would have been a symbol of status, reflecting on the socio-economic position of women in 19th century Netherlands. The fact she is photographed at all also tells us a lot, because the sitter must have had the economic resources to pay for it. How does the image create meaning through cultural references, and historical associations? The woman’s dress and jewelry are relatively modest, in comparison to the extravagant fashions of wealthy women in the 19th century. She wears a watch, a new technology that emerged in this period, which could suggest she is part of a rising middle class. As a historian, to gain a deeper insight into the social context of this portrait, I would want to research the history of photography and the development of the middle class in the Netherlands during the 19th century. This would allow me to understand the artwork better.