Portret van een jonge vrouw met hoed 1860 - 1900

This is a portrait of a young woman with a hat by Boscher, of unknown date, measuring only 85 by 51 millimeters. The subdued tones and small scale create an intimate viewing experience. The woman's gaze is directed slightly off-center, drawing us into the composition. Boscher uses soft focus and delicate gradations of light to model her features and the elaborate hat, creating a sense of depth and texture within the limited space. The framing and presentation, typical of its time, situate the image within a matrix of social codes and conventions related to representation and identity. The portrait flirts with the structuralist idea of signifiers and signified, where the woman and her attire act as signs of social status and femininity. Notice how the formal aspects of the portrait, such as its size and tonal range, work to construct meaning. It's a reminder that even seemingly straightforward images engage with broader cultural discourses.