Portret van een onbekende man c. 1895 - 1915

This is a portrait of an unknown man by Wilhelmus Johannes van Pampus. It's a small photograph, so you can really get up close and inspect it. What’s interesting is how much information is packed into a small space. The man’s mustache is pretty neat, isn't it? Every hair seems perfectly in place, as if he took great care in crafting it. Look at the way he's leaning slightly on a table, one hand casually placed for support. It's a common pose, and I've seen it in plenty of photos, but there's a certain seriousness to it. In terms of other photographers, I think of August Sander. Like Sander, Van Pampus is recording a type, rather than an individual. There’s ambiguity in how we read this piece, and to me, that’s always the most interesting part.