Portret van een onbekende vrouw met baby 1856 - 1877

This is a sepia-toned photograph of an unknown woman and child by Paul Emile Pesme. The portrait, barely more than 10cm tall, presents a study in contrasts, both in tone and texture. The mother’s patterned dress is offset by the infant’s white gown, highlighting a tension between the intricate and the simple. This contrast draws attention to the way identity is constructed through visual codes. Her plaid dress and head covering versus the baby’s simple white dress reflect how social roles and status are communicated through clothing. The textured fabric of the dress contrasts with the smooth skin of the baby. The formal composition of the photo, where the subjects are centrally located and posed, invites us to consider the photograph not just as a record but as a constructed image, imbued with cultural meanings and potentially challenging conventional portraiture of its time.