Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1880 - 1900

Hermanus Jodocus Weesing made this portrait of an unknown woman in Amsterdam, likely in the late 19th century. Small photographic portraits like these were relatively new and very popular. They served as calling cards and mementos, circulating within social networks. The woman’s modest dress and hairstyle speak to the conventions of the time. The photograph suggests a sense of middle-class respectability and constraint. Amsterdam during this period experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization. The image of a composed, yet anonymous, woman can be seen as a reflection on the social expectations placed on women in a rapidly changing society. Understanding the social conditions of Amsterdam, through city archives, newspapers and family records, could provide a richer context for interpreting this image. Art historians use such resources to shed light on the personal and societal stories embedded in art.