Portret van een onbekende jongen c. 1864 - 1869

Wilhelm Benque’s “Portret van een onbekende jongen” (c. 1864-1869) is a portrait photograph depicting an unknown young man. The image is set against a simple, light background with a circular vignette, a common photographic style of the era. The boy is dressed in a suit, looking directly at the viewer with a serious expression. This photograph exemplifies the realism and attention to detail typical of portraiture in the mid-19th century. The small size of the photograph suggests it may have been intended as a personal memento or a cabinet card, popular formats at the time.