Portret van een meisje, staand bij een tafel met plant 1860 - 1896

This is an undated photograph, made by P. Wagenaar, titled ‘Portret van een meisje, staand bij een tafel met plant.’ This image captures a young girl standing beside a table with a potted plant, a formal pose characteristic of nineteenth-century portraiture. Her attire and the setting offer a glimpse into the cultural values and social expectations of the time. The girl’s stern expression and the somewhat austere setting prompts us to consider the experience of childhood in the past. What did it mean to be a young girl during this era, and how were expectations around gender and class shaping this child’s identity? The image invites us to reflect on the lives of ordinary people and the emotional landscape of the past. This photograph is more than just an image; it is a small window into a world of social expectations and personal experiences.