Portret van het bruidspaar Carel Engelbert Julius Röntgen en mej. Klobbie Possibly 1889

This wedding portrait was taken by Veuve J. van Koningsveld, a female photographer working in the Netherlands. It depicts the marriage of Carel Engelbert Julius Röntgen and Mej. Klobbie. Reflecting on the socio-economic context of the late 19th century, this photograph visualizes the cultural emphasis on marriage and family, particularly within the middle and upper classes. The careful composition, the subjects’ formal attire, and even the painted backdrop, reinforce the notion of marriage as a social performance and a cornerstone of societal structure. As a female photographer, Koningsveld occupied a unique position. While women were gaining entry into professional fields, gender norms often relegated them to specific roles. Photography offered a space for female entrepreneurship, yet their work was often undervalued compared to their male counterparts. This image, then, is not just a portrait of a couple, but also a document of a woman navigating the constraints and opportunities of her time. How does this carefully constructed image, created by a woman, capture not just the union of two individuals, but also the complex social fabric of their time?