A self-portrait by a woman is often much more than an image of her body. It can also be a powerful tool to address social issues. In the exhibition Female Portraits from the Collection, the Fotomuseum Den Haag shows works from the collection by female makers who work with the photographic self-portrait in various ways.

The exhibition shows intuitively how these makers use the self-portrait to explore or make powerful statements about sensitive themes such as abortion rights, colonial history and body positivity. The exhibition provides an opportunity to exhibit several recently purchased self-portraits by female artists, which augment the existing collection in which self-portraiture plays an important role.

The exhibition features works by, among others, Karla Hiraldo Voleau, Mari Katayama, Thania Petersen, Laura Hospes and Hélène Amouzou.