Portret van een jonge man in kostuum met degen, aangeduid als M. Zijnen de Gier Possibly 1887 - 1899

Antonius Joannes van der Stok made this cabinet card photograph, entitled ‘Portret van een jonge man in kostuum met degen, aangeduid als M. Zijnen de Gier’, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The work offers a glimpse into the cultural practices of the Dutch upper classes during this period. This theatrical costume and flamboyant pose suggests that the sitter was an actor, or that he was attending a costume ball. The costume itself is intended to evoke the Dutch Golden Age, and is part of a wider trend for historical re-enactment that grew in popularity in Europe and America in the late 19th century. It’s likely that he had this portrait taken to commemorate the event. The photograph also reflects the rise of studio portraiture, which allowed individuals to present themselves in a carefully curated manner. By examining photographic archives and social histories of the period, we can begin to understand the cultural values and aspirations reflected in this image.