Portret van een jonge vrouw 1891 - 1910

This is Pieter Wilhelmus Roemer's small portrait of a young woman, created sometime during his career, using an unknown photographic process. Roemer worked during a time when photography was becoming more accessible, yet portraiture remained a significant marker of social status and identity. Consider the gaze of the young woman, seemingly direct but also reserved. What does it tell us about her position within the social structures of the time? The very act of commissioning or sitting for a portrait suggests a certain level of economic privilege. But what about the women who were not typically represented in the dominant narratives of the time? How do their stories get told? How might this portrait reflect or challenge traditional representations and expectations of women in 19th century society? This image becomes a quiet, yet powerful reflection on identity, representation, and the untold stories of the past.