Buste van een vrouw met hoed en opstaande kraag 1811 - 1873

Pieter van Loon created this drawing of a woman with a hat and ruffled collar in the 19th century. Van Loon was part of a society steeped in tradition, where social class and gender defined one's role. In this portrait, we see a woman, likely of a higher social class, adorned in the fashion of the time, but her eyes are closed. What does it mean for a portrait to deny us the gaze of its subject? Is she dreaming, or does this suggest a certain interiority, a withdrawal from the societal expectations placed upon her? The elaborate hat and collar speak to the constraints of femininity and societal expectations. We may wonder about the internal life of women during this period. The sepia tones lend a softness to the piece and evoke a sense of nostalgia. It reminds us that behind every historical figure, no matter how privileged, there is a person with thoughts, feelings, and experiences that resonate across time.