Portret van een staande vrouw en een zittend kind 1880 - 1920

Gustaf Alfred Johanson Dahllöf made this small photograph of a woman and child, likely towards the end of the 19th century. During this era, photography studios became more accessible, yet portraiture remained a formal affair, especially for women who were often presented within very specific social roles. Here, the woman stands tall, her gaze softly directed at the child she cradles. The child, dressed in pristine white, sits stiffly, a common pose for children’s formal portraits at that time. Consider how the photograph captures a particular ideal of motherhood and domesticity. The woman’s modest attire and posture speak to the societal expectations placed on women as caregivers. The photograph offers a glimpse into the private sphere of family life, carefully constructed for public consumption. This image then is not just a simple depiction of a mother and child; it's a reflection of the values and expectations of the time, an intimate moment framed by social and cultural norms.