Portret van een zittende militair 1860 - 1880

Curator: Welcome. Here we see a striking photographic portrait from the period between 1860 and 1880, "Portret van een zittende militair", attributed to Johann Bapt. Scheidl. Editor: It has this melancholic feel about it, doesn’t it? The sepia tones lend an air of nostalgia. He looks so serious and contained in that very ornamental frame. Curator: Yes, the framing itself is quite typical for carte-de-visite portraits which gained popularity in the mid-19th century and were important vehicles of self-representation and social identity, similar to today's profile pics. Editor: It makes you wonder, though, about the nature of the image-making. Was this meant to memorialize or idealize? Who was he fighting for? And what were the power dynamics between him and the photographer? Curator: Absolutely. These photographs often had a propagandistic role, shaping the public perception of the military. Photography, despite its claim to objectivity, became deeply entangled with nationalist agendas. Scheidl clearly frames this military figure in a respectful if not somewhat sanitized manner. Editor: I’m interested in his gaze, he's not quite looking at us. What is he looking at, or looking for? What kind of societal norms did his identity conform to or rebel against, captured at that moment by the mechanical eye of the camera? How was this photograph circulated, interpreted? Curator: We can contextualize his portrait within the rising nationalistic sentiments of the time. He appears poised, composed, presenting a carefully curated image of military professionalism. I think it offers a window into the visual strategies through which the military sought to project its image to the public. Editor: Ultimately it is the contrast that strikes me; that of a somber yet ornamented composition alongside the broader history of conflict and control represented through its subject. Thanks for exploring with me. Curator: It's been my pleasure. Viewing this piece invites us to critically examine the historical currents shaping it, recognizing the intertwined threads of visual culture and national identity.