Portret van een zittende vrouw met muts 1862 - 1885

J.J.D. van Geuns created this photograph of a seated woman sometime between the 1870s and 1880s. The portrait, with its formal composition and subdued tones, reflects the cultural values of the Netherlands during that era. The woman's attire, including her bonnet and dark dress, speaks to the conventions of middle-class respectability. During this period, photography studios became increasingly popular among the rising middle class. Family portraits reinforced social status, and were a symbol of domestic stability. Looking closer, we can see the constraints placed on women's roles, and the expectations of modesty and restraint. Historians examining family archives, studio records, and fashion trends can provide further insight into the nuances of Dutch society. This image invites us to reflect on the ways in which photography both reflected and shaped social identities.