Portret van een vrouw met muts 1880 - 1900

This small photograph depicts a woman wearing a bonnet, made by B.J. Pottjewijd sometime around the turn of the 20th century in the Netherlands. While modest in scale, this portrait speaks volumes about the rise of photography as a tool for shaping social identities. Consider the woman's attire: her lace collar and dark dress suggest middle-class respectability, while the bonnet was a common head covering among women during this period. In the Netherlands, as elsewhere in Europe, the late 19th century witnessed a surge in the popularity of studio photography, mirroring the rise of the middle class and changing social norms. The portrait studio became a space where individuals could perform and codify their social status through carefully constructed poses, clothing, and backdrops. Understanding this image requires delving into the social history of photography, examining how it transformed visual culture and redefined notions of selfhood. By studying sources, such as photographs like this, we can trace the complex ways in which art intersects with broader social and institutional forces.