Portret van een vrouw 1886 - 1889

This is Emile Cornelisse-Hergel's “Portret van een vrouw” (Portrait of a Woman), a photograph measuring just 83 by 51 mm. Born in 1832, Cornelisse-Hergel operated within a rapidly changing society in which photography offered a new means of capturing identity, but also of reinforcing social norms. The woman in the portrait is dressed in the style of the time, with a high-necked blouse and ornate jewelry; her expression is reserved, offering us a glimpse into the performance of femininity in the nineteenth century. Note how her gaze is directed to the side, perhaps reflecting the limited agency afforded to women within the male gaze. The small scale of the photograph suggests intimacy, maybe this was intended as a personal memento, exchanged between loved ones. Consider how photography in this period served both as a tool for personal expression and as a reflection of broader societal expectations. The woman’s poised demeanor speaks volumes about the roles and constraints placed upon women, inviting us to reflect on our own perceptions of gender and identity.