Vrouwelijk naakt voor spiegel c. 1890 - 1910

"Vrouwelijk naakt voor spiegel," or Female Nude in Front of a Mirror, is a photograph by George Hendrik Breitner. Breitner, working in Amsterdam at the turn of the 20th century, was well known for capturing the bustling city and intimate portrayals of women. Here, we see a nude woman gazing at her reflection, her arm raised, seemingly lost in self-inspection. The mirror doubles her presence, inviting us into a private moment of contemplation. In a time when women's bodies were often objectified in art, Breitner offers a nuanced perspective. This image has a sense of vulnerability as well as defiance. Breitner's focus isn't just on the physical form, but on the psychological space inhabited by his model. He once said he aimed "to capture the emotion," and here, he achieves a remarkable sense of intimacy. Through his lens, we are invited to consider the complexities of female identity and self-perception.