This painting comprises part of a polyptych dedicated to Aletta Jacobs (1854-1929), one of the forerunners of feminism. This portrait references her study of medicine at the University of Groningen (1871-1878). The taboo against working also applied to girls from the higher echelons of society. Freedom to choose didn’t exist; it was all about marriage and producing children. Aletta Jacobs graduated as the first female physician in 1878, and went on to practice her trade. Her offices were located on the Herengracht, where once a week she held consultations for the poor. As a weapon in the battle against poverty she introduced patients to contraceptive use, as a means for poor couples to limit the size of their families.