Portret van een vrouw, leunend op een sokkel met boeken 1860 - 1900

This is a photograph entitled "Portret van een vrouw, leunend op een sokkel met boeken," created by A. Delamare and A. Raguet. The composition is strikingly formal. The subdued sepia tones create a sense of gravity, while the woman's pose—leaning thoughtfully on a book-laden plinth—evokes classical portraiture. The vertical lines of the backdrop curtain contrast with the horizontal stacks of books, creating a structured yet harmonious visual field. This arrangement is far from arbitrary; the books and plinth are signifiers of knowledge, and the woman's contemplative gesture suggests intellectual depth. These elements, arranged meticulously, create a symbolic framework that challenges conventional portraiture, inviting us to consider the semiotic interplay between subject, setting, and viewer. This photograph prompts reflection on the encoding of identity through visual cues, reminding us that meaning is constructed.