Portret van een vrouw in gedachte verzonken langs de waterkant c. 1855

Eduard Isaac Asser created this photograph, "Portret van een vrouw in gedachte verzonken langs de waterkant," without a specified date, currently held in the Rijksmuseum. This tranquil image invites reflection on the position of women within 19th-century Dutch society. The woman's posture and setting evoke Romantic ideals of nature as a space for contemplation, yet her downcast gaze hints at deeper social constraints. Was she part of the burgeoning middle class, where women were increasingly confined to domestic roles? The photograph's artistic choices invite further questions. What does her bare feet signify? Is it an assertion of freedom or a subtle expression of vulnerability? The Rijksmuseum’s collection of 19th-century photography and documents can provide insights into such questions and deeper understanding of the social and cultural values reflected in this evocative work.