Portret van Johanna Geertruida Jonker 1900 - 1907

Johan Christiaan Reesinck made this portrait of Johanna Geertruida Jonker with photography. The image offers a fascinating glimpse into the visual culture of the time, capturing not just an individual likeness, but also a sense of social identity. Consider the cultural associations of the time, perhaps late 19th or early 20th century Netherlands, where social status was often communicated through portraiture and dress. The subject's attire, hairstyle, and even her composed expression, speak to the conventions of bourgeois respectability. The photographer’s studio, as an institution, played a significant role in shaping such representations. Reesinck's studio would have been a space where social norms were reinforced and negotiated. To understand this photograph more fully, we could research the history of photography in the Netherlands, studio portraiture, and the social history of the Dutch middle class. By situating the artwork within its specific historical context, we can gain valuable insights into the cultural values and power dynamics of the time.