Portret van een vrouw c. 1899

Erich Sellin made this portrait of a woman using photography at an unknown date. The woman's gaze is steady, hinting at the complex societal expectations and personal ambitions of women during that era. Without further information, it's challenging to pinpoint the exact historical moment, but portraiture of this kind often served to solidify social status. This format became increasingly accessible to the middle class, reflecting broader shifts in social mobility and identity construction. The woman's dress and hairstyle offer clues about the fashion norms of the time, and, perhaps, her socio-economic standing. Was this a commemorative act? A statement of self? This photograph invites us to reflect on how identity is both captured and constructed through visual representation, a dance between personal narrative and cultural expectation.