Portret van de heer Lenz c. 1863 - 1866

This is a photograph of the man identified as 'heer Lenz,' made by the Abdullah Frères, a collective of Ottoman-Armenian photographers who operated in the late 19th century. Their studio produced images during a time when the Ottoman Empire was undergoing significant modernization and reform. The photograph itself is an intimate portrayal. Lenz is dressed in formal attire, a bow tie and jacket suggesting a man of status and respectability. His gaze is direct, and he seems self-assured. It reflects the conventions of portraiture at the time, where the goal was to capture the sitter’s dignity and social standing. Yet, this image also hints at the complexities of identity. Lenz's image, captured by photographers from a minority group within the Empire, invites us to think about whose stories are told and by whom. Consider the power dynamics at play, who has the agency to represent whom. The photograph serves not only as a record of an individual but also as a mirror reflecting the broader societal structures and cultural exchanges of its time.