Portret van een vrouw, staand bij een stoel 1860 - 1900

This photograph, by Louis Nicolas Pillias, presents a woman standing beside a chair. Her placement and grip of the chair bear significance. Consider how the chair, typically a symbol of authority and status, here becomes an object of support. This gesture echoes across centuries, recall the archaic statues of seated figures holding scepters or animals, demonstrating dominion and control, as well as the vulnerability and transience of power. Note also the heavy curtain in the background, traditionally a divider between private and public space, hinting at a sense of theatricality and hidden narratives. The woman’s direct gaze suggests a quiet challenge, inviting us to decipher the layers of her identity. The way she grips the chair can be seen as a symbol of holding onto tradition and a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The meanings are never fixed, but always in flux, resurfacing and evolving.