Portret van een jonge man 1869 - 1890

Johannes Petrus Oppers made this albumen print of a young man sometime in the mid-19th century. Photographs like this one were often included in family albums. This format of portraiture provides us with a view into the social conventions of the time. The young man's attire—dark jacket and bow tie—suggests a certain level of formality and middle-class status. In the Netherlands, during this period, such photographic portraits became increasingly accessible to a broader segment of the population, moving portraiture away from the exclusive domain of the wealthy elite. The very act of commissioning and preserving such images reflects changing social values and the rise of a culture of remembrance. The institutional history of museums also plays a role here, as they preserve and display these artifacts, shaping our understanding of the past. Further research into genealogical records and social histories of the period would provide greater insight.