Portret van Ch.A. Matthes-Doorman en een vrouw c. 1861 - 1874

This mounted albumen print titled 'Portret van Ch.A. Matthes-Doorman en een vrouw' was created by Albert Greiner. This portrait offers a window into the complex social constructs of gender and class in the late 19th century. The women’s fashion, from their feathered hats down to their beaded embellishments, speaks to a certain level of affluence, reflecting the rigid social hierarchies of the time. Their reserved poses and direct gazes are fascinating. Are we seeing a carefully constructed performance of femininity, or are there glimmers of individuality breaking through? What I find striking here is how the photograph invites us to consider the tension between representation and reality. While seemingly traditional, these women subtly challenge conventional narratives, inviting us to question the roles they inhabit. The print, in its delicate tones, captures a moment of quiet defiance, a subtle disruption of societal expectations.