Portret van een baby, zittend in een stoel met speelgoedhond 1870 - 1900

Hendrik Boonstoppel captured this carte de visite of a baby with a toy dog sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Photography in this era served not only as documentation but also as a constructed representation of social identity and status. Notice how the child is formally posed, reflecting a desire to present the sitter in a composed and dignified manner. The choice of clothing, and even the inclusion of a toy dog, subtly communicates aspects of the family’s social standing. Boonstoppel's work opens up questions about the gaze. Who are photographs like this made for, and what desires do they fulfill? What expectations do they place on the subject? The innocence of the child contrasts starkly with the formality of the portrait, hinting at the complex negotiations of identity from the earliest stages of life. It reminds us that even seemingly simple images are deeply embedded in the social and cultural values of their time.