Marie Breitner en een meisje bij het ontwaken in bed c. 1890 - 1910

This is a photograph by George Hendrik Breitner, showing Marie Breitner and a girl waking up in bed. Though undated, it likely comes from the late 19th or early 20th century. Breitner was a Dutch artist known for his depictions of Amsterdam and for his role in introducing impressionism to the Netherlands. But here, we get something more intimate, and a bit less polished. The domestic interior and the soft light suggest a moment of quiet contemplation. What can it tell us about social and cultural norms? Photography at this time was becoming more accessible, moving from the studio to the street. It could capture fleeting moments, offering new ways of seeing the world. Breitner's photograph challenges the traditional art institution. It asks what is worthy of representation. To learn more, look into the history of photography, the growth of impressionism, and the daily lives of people in the Netherlands during this period. What we see in art always depends on where we look.