Reproductie naar schilderij van Willem Witsen van een portret van mevrouw A. Schultzberg c. 1860 - 1915

This is a reproduction of a portrait of Ms. A. Schultzberg, after Willem Witsen, made in the Netherlands. The portrait’s neutral tones and direct gaze suggests a certain kind of public role for women, one that had its origins in the Dutch Golden Age when the country was at the forefront of world trade and finance. The growth of a wealthy middle class created new roles for women in the domestic sphere, but it also began to open up some public spaces. Here, the sitter’s simple hairstyle and plain dress code may be a reflection of the progressive movements of the early twentieth century, when women were advocating for greater educational and professional opportunities. Historical research into sources such as census records, newspaper archives, and organization records can help us to better understand the social context in which the original portrait was made, and the new opportunities that were emerging for women at this time.