Portret van een vrouw c. 1850 - 1899

This photographic print, made by the London and Continental Photographic Copying Company, presents a woman in a striped dress. The lines of her dress converge towards her waist, drawing the viewer's eye to her core, reminiscent of the Venus Pudica gesture. This gesture, seen in ancient sculptures, represents modesty but simultaneously draws attention to the very area it conceals. The slight smile and direct gaze of the woman challenge this classical modesty. This recalls Botticelli's Venus, whose hand, intended to conceal, instead accentuates her beauty and vulnerability. The striped pattern on the dress itself acts as a symbolic layer. Stripes, which can be seen as signs of restriction or conformity, contrast with the woman’s poised demeanor, suggesting a negotiation between societal expectations and individual expression. This tension, this visual push and pull, reveals the complex interplay between outward appearance and inner identity. These elements resonate through time, echoing in modern portraiture.