Portret van een onbekende vrouw c. 1865 - 1900

This is an undated photograph of an unknown woman, made by René de Man. Encapsulated in a circular frame, she gazes wistfully, her hair elegantly arranged in a high bun. The bun, a seemingly simple hairstyle, carries centuries of meaning. In ancient Greece, the 'Krobylos' hairstyle, a similar bun high on the head, symbolized status and civilization. This motif resurfaces throughout history, a symbol of order and control. Yet, as we delve deeper, we find the bun also represents constraint—the binding of unbound energy, a visual echo of societal expectations imposed upon women. Even in modernity, we see the bun's complex dance between freedom and conformity. Think of the Gibson Girl, whose elaborate updo mirrored the era's aspirations for female independence, albeit within strict social boundaries. As viewers, we are drawn to the psychological tension between the controlled exterior and the untamed emotions that lie beneath, connecting us to the historical trajectory of women. The enduring power of this humble hairstyle lies in its capacity to evoke our collective memory and stir our deepest emotions.