Portret van de schilder André Jozef Minguet, halffiguur 1861

This is a photograph of the painter André Jozef Minguet, captured by Joseph Dupont, during a period of burgeoning bourgeois self-awareness. Note the sitter's assured gaze, the meticulous grooming, and the carefully knotted bow tie. These are all emblems of a rising middle class, eager to assert its place in the social hierarchy through portraiture. Consider the mustache, a symbol of virility and social standing, which has ancient roots. From the Assyrian kings, who wore elaborate beards as symbols of power, to the medieval knights and renaissance courtiers, facial hair has signified a man's readiness for war and love. The immaculate grooming we see here is a far cry from the wild beards of ancient warriors, yet the underlying impulse remains: to project an image of strength and control. What does this say about our collective memory? The desire to assert oneself through external markers persists, evolving with societal norms. The mustache continues its cyclical journey through history, shedding old meanings and accruing new ones.