Johanna van Dashorst (1813-1886) was a progressive woman. With her ten children and husband, marine painter, photographer and teacher Christiaan Cornelis Kannemans, she ran the well-run Fotostudio Kannemans en Zoon on the Grote Markt. Her portrait photo was taken in this photo studio. Most striking is her large cashmere shawl. These became fashionable in the 19th century, brought over from Paris. Johanna wears the luxurious variant made of cashmere wool and the distinctive comma-like woven-in paisley motif. The popular, cheaper variant is printed with decorations and made of a less exclusive type of wool.
Cornelis Mermans (1835-1922) is seen here in the uniform of papal Zouave: soldier of the ecclesiastical state. In the 19th century, an international Zouave army was formed under French army command. Goal: to defend the papal state in Italy against the royals who wanted to make Italy a kingdom. The Netherlands supplied the largest number of Zouaves. Oudenbosch was the rallying point. Cornelis wears the typical zoeaven uniform: Turkish-looking clothing modelled after the French army unit in Algiers.
The Klep brothers here pose side by side on a garden bench. From left to right you see successively Ab (born 1907-1983), the youngest and dressed in a dress. Next to him in colorful sailor suits: Han (1906-?), Ton (1904-1983) and Jaap (1903-1976). The boys are part of the highly successful family business, De Etna NV, and they grow up in opulence. The family albums are full of pictures of trips, excursions and children in beautiful clothes.
Jeannette Houwing (1887-1976) Thanks to the memoirs of the bachelor Jeannette, we learn a lot about her life. In her working life she was first a secretary and later a curator at the predecessor of Stedelijk Museum Breda. Her notes offer us a unique glimpse into the Breda of yesteryear. Around 1900 there was a lot of partying going on in Breda. Jeannette writes about garden concerts at the Concordia Theatre, the tea pavilions on Ginnekenweg and parties in the Mastbos (forest). Invitations mentioned the desired dress code. At Hotel Flora, there were special balls for children. "The girls wore ball gowns and were equipped with feather fan and ball book."
Piet (1866-1936) and Adriana (1867-1931) Crassaarts on their wedding day on Oct. 31, 1931 in Steenbergen near Bergen op Zoom. The then 35-year-old wealthy cattle trader and landowner wears a neat suit. The 34-year-old bride is dressed in a wedding gown of black silk, decorated with machine-made lace and beads. On her head the traditional Brabant hat topped with a crown. It was very common in those days to continue wearing wedding garments to church on Sundays after the wedding day. And the extraordinary thing is that this very wedding dress has been preserved in the museum collection. The dress is no longer exactly the same as it was on the wedding day: wear marks and various trims are proof that the dress has had a long life.