Portret van een peuter, staand bij een stoel 1870 - 1900

This portrait of a toddler standing by a chair was captured by Jacob Kuyper sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period marked by significant shifts in social norms and the rise of the middle class. During this era, photography became increasingly accessible, offering new ways to document family life and project social status. The child, dressed in what appears to be a frilly white dress, stands stiffly beside an ornate chair. This carefully constructed image reflects the values of the time, emphasizing respectability and decorum. The child’s expression, however, hints at the tension between the idealized image and the lived experience of childhood. The photograph serves not only as a personal memento but also as a historical document, revealing the complex interplay between identity, representation, and social expectation in a rapidly changing world. What does it mean to be seen, and who is doing the looking?