Mansportret 1880 - 1886

This ‘Man’s Portrait’ was anonymously made in a photographic studio, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The subject is presented formally, dressed in a dark suit and bow tie. The image, with its sepia tones and the subject’s gaze directed at the viewer, speaks to the rise of photography as a tool for social representation. In its time, photography studios played a crucial role in shaping social identities. The rise of the middle class created a demand for portraiture, as a way of establishing oneself in the social hierarchy. This image could be read as a comment on the aspirations and ideals of a rising class, their claim to recognition and status. What does it mean to be presented in a photo, at this time? What rules are in place? These are the questions that historians can ask, by looking at archives, social records, and cultural artifacts to better understand the conditions in which this image was made and viewed.