Portret van een zittende jongen met hond en boek 1854 - 1865

This is a portrait of a seated boy with a dog and a book, captured by Maull & Co. The photograph presents a young boy in a formal pose that speaks volumes about the constructed nature of childhood and class identity. Dressed in a velvet suit, he sits with a book, his dog resting on the chair beside him. This image, likely taken in the mid-19th century, reflects the values and aspirations of the bourgeoisie, where education and affluence were carefully cultivated and displayed. What does it mean to perform childhood in this way? The boy's posture, his attire, and the presence of the book all contribute to a narrative of respectability and future success. This portrait offers a glimpse into the emotional landscape of childhood shaped by societal expectations, where the personal and the political were inextricably linked.