Portret van Jan Reijnders 1880 - 1906

Curator: The subject of this gelatin-silver print from between 1880 and 1906, taken by Willem Gerhardus Kuijer, is "Portret van Jan Reijnders," now held in the Rijksmuseum collection. Immediately, I'm struck by how perfectly it captures the ethos of that era. Editor: It is a beautifully composed oval portrait. The sepia tones create an intimate, almost nostalgic feel. But that beard...it practically vibrates with a textured energy that the smooth photographic paper cannot contain! Curator: Consider this through a postcolonial lens. We must address how such portraits were often used to solidify and promote certain European male identities, which in turn bolstered systems of power and inequality. What story does Jan Reijnders tell us about the relationship between portraiture and patriarchy during that period? Editor: That's interesting, certainly a crucial lens. However, on a formal level, it seems more than just an exercise in patriarchal dominance. Notice how Kuijer employs soft focus to create a dreamlike quality. The man's face seems both present and slightly detached, drawing attention to the surface and technique, wouldn't you agree? The contrast plays tricks on the eyes... Curator: Indeed. We should not erase the individual agency in such photographic encounters. Jan Reijnders himself makes a statement; he presents a calculated image of respectability, but is it possible to also find, if you will, an air of performativity? This type of photography allowed the subject to mold their identity for posterity. This opens interesting questions regarding subjectivity and agency... Editor: Agreed. It also illustrates the photographer’s intent—the formal arrangement certainly serves the narrative; it’s a harmonious, stable composition in subtle ways: the curves of the backdrop echoing the line of his shoulders, drawing the viewer’s attention up to that serious gaze. The composition invites us into Jan's personal world. Curator: Exploring "Portret van Jan Reijnders," hopefully allows us to reexamine history through photography and think critically about image production during times of deep historical and social transformations. Editor: Yes, and perhaps reflect on the power of the photographic portrait and our own expectations for what a portrait "should" say!