Portret van een zittende en een staande vrouw 1860 - 1890

This is a small photograph by Howie depicting two women, one seated and one standing. The women, possibly sisters, are dressed in similar, elaborate dresses that speak to their social status and the conventions of 19th-century portraiture. Looking at this image, I'm struck by the tension between the women’s carefully constructed public image and the more complex realities of their lives. In a historical context where women's roles were largely confined to the domestic sphere, photography offered a way to assert identity and presence. The uniformity of their attire points to the societal expectations placed on women. Yet, their distinct poses and expressions hint at individual personalities navigating these constraints. These early photographs offer glimpses into the lives of women navigating the complexities of identity, class, and representation in a rapidly changing world. It invites us to reflect on how far we've come.