Portret van een onbekende vrouw met baby in doopjurk 1900 - 1914

P. Thorn created this portrait of an unknown woman with a baby in a christening gown in Luxembourg. The image invites us to consider the cultural and social role of motherhood and religious rituals in the late 19th or early 20th century. The woman's formal attire, including a high-collared blouse and bow tie, indicate a certain social standing. The baby's christening gown signifies the importance of religious tradition in family life, embedding the child and mother into a social order. The photograph itself speaks to the rise of portraiture as a middle-class status symbol, and the institutionalisation of photography as a profession, as seen in the photographer’s imprint. We can research the socio-economic conditions in Luxembourg during this period to understand the values and beliefs of the society that this photograph represents. It can reveal how social class, gender roles, and religious practices shaped individual lives. By examining the image through a historical lens, we gain insight into the complex interplay between individual identity and social norms.