Portret van een man met snor, aangeduid als meneer Van Loon 1863 - 1901

Johannes Hendrikus Kramer produced this small portrait of a moustachioed man, possibly named Van Loon, using photography, a relatively new technology at the time. Dating from the late 19th century in the Netherlands, the image embodies the rise of bourgeois portraiture, reflecting a shift in social values where photography democratized representation. Before this, portraits were only accessible to the upper classes. The man's formal attire and carefully groomed moustache speak to the codes of middle-class respectability and self-presentation. The institutionalization of photography through studios and galleries also played a crucial role, shaping artistic production and consumption. Understanding this portrait requires us to consider the broader context of Dutch society, its economic structures, and the evolving role of visual media. Researching the Van Loon family and the archives of photographic studios could provide additional insights into the sitter's social milieu and the image's cultural significance. The meaning of art, here, is contingent on this social and institutional context.