Portret van Antonius Jacobus Lambertus de Roock, burgemeester van Bergen op Zoom c. 1879

Here we have a portrait of Antonius Jacobus Lambertus de Roock, the mayor of Bergen op Zoom, crafted by Joseph Dupont. The photograph presents a tightly framed composition, dominated by warm sepia tones and a formal arrangement of shapes. The subject is captured in a suit with a white shirt and bow tie. The image is structured around the interplay of light and shadow, which model the mayor's face and clothing, giving depth and volume. Dupont plays with the textures of fabric and skin, contrasting the smoothness of the face with the corduroy pattern of the suit. Compositionally, the high contrast between the dark suit and the light background draws the eye to the figure, imbuing the subject with authority. The red border around the image functions as a semiotic frame, which both isolates and elevates the subject. It reminds us that portraits are staged representations of the individual, designed to convey specific messages about status and identity.