Portret van Herman Jozua van Lennep 1885 - 1888

This is Albert Greiner's portrait of Herman Jozua van Lennep, a photograph now housed in the Rijksmuseum. Photography in the 19th century was becoming more accessible, yet portraiture still largely remained a privilege of the middle and upper classes. Consider the sitter's gaze, averted and perhaps indicative of a certain societal expectation of women during that era. The elaborate hairstyle and ornate dress are signs of status, but also speak to the restricted roles assigned to women in that period. There's a tension between the subject's individual identity and the way society expected her to be represented. The photograph isn’t just a record; it's a social document, revealing the complex interplay between gender, class, and representation. The photograph allows us to meditate on both the personal and the political implications inherent in the act of portraiture.