Portret van Jouwert Witteveen 1860 - 1890

This small portrait of Jouwert Witteveen was created by an anonymous photographer. The carte de visite, a popular format for portrait photography, emerged in the mid-19th century amidst shifting social and cultural norms. What strikes me most about this image is how it captures a moment of personal identity, a specific way of presenting oneself during a period of significant social change. The sitter, Witteveen, is dressed in the conventional attire of the time, reflecting a certain social class and respectability. Yet, I find myself wondering about the stories and experiences hidden behind the formality of his pose. What were his aspirations, his challenges? This portrait invites us to consider the complexities of individual identity within the framework of historical and social expectations. It makes you wonder about the stories we tell, and the ones we leave untold.