Portret van Anna Louisa Geertruyda Bosboom-Toussaint before 1887

This photographic portrait captures Anna Louisa Geertruyda Bosboom-Toussaint, her image rendered in a style that evokes the gravitas of painted portraiture. Note the lace collar, a symbol of domesticity and bourgeois virtue during this era. This motif, the virtuous woman, finds echoes across centuries. Consider, for instance, the countless depictions of female saints, often adorned with similar markers of piety and domesticity. Yet, here, in the advent of photography, we witness a democratization of this imagery. No longer confined to the elite or the sacred, the trappings of virtue are here bestowed upon a writer. Observe how this motif is recontextualized, embodying the shifting social values of the time. The domestic sphere, historically a place of confinement, now provides a space of literary production. What was once a symbol of submission is transformed into an emblem of intellectual and creative power. This portrait is a powerful visual marker, engaging viewers on a subconscious level, a testament to the enduring yet ever-evolving cultural narratives.