Portret van een vrouw 1870 - 1899

This photograph, taken by J.B. Jasper, captures a woman in a striped dress, her hand resting gracefully on a chair. The black ribbon tied around her neck is a potent symbol. Such adornments have echoes throughout history, from simple declarations of status to more melancholic symbols of mourning, dating back to ancient times. Think of the elaborate ruffs of the Elizabethan era or the delicate lace collars in Dutch portraits, each subtly conveying messages of identity. Even in earlier medieval paintings, similar neckwear denoted class and identity. The ribbon evolves. Its reappearance in varied forms echoes collective desires and anxieties about identity and social position. The cyclical progression of this symbol has resurfaced and evolved through history, bearing new meanings and engaging viewers, like us, on a profound, almost subconscious level.