Portret van een zittende vrouw 1855 - 1880

A. Verneuil captured this photograph, "Portret van een zittende vrouw", using the F.B.G. Patent. The portrait provides a glimpse into the constricted roles of women in the 19th century. The sitter's pose and attire, while conveying a sense of decorum, also speak to the limited spheres of activity available to women of the time. The elaborate dress, with its full skirt, contrasts with the woman's reserved expression, perhaps hinting at a tension between outward appearance and inner life. What does it mean to be a woman in that era? Where does one find autonomy? The act of portraiture itself raises questions about representation and identity. How does the photographer shape the image of the sitter, and what agency does the sitter have in constructing her own representation? Consider the power dynamics at play in the creation of this image. What is captured in this moment of stillness, and what remains unseen?