Portret van Alfred Paul Marie de Richemont before 1884

This photograph portrays Alfred Paul Marie de Richemont, its maker now lost to time. Note the subject's arms, crossed resolutely before him, a gesture laden with meaning. The crossing of limbs to create a protective barrier is an ancient form of self-assertion, appearing across cultures. Consider, for instance, how Egyptian pharaohs are depicted with arms crossed over their chests, symbolizing power and authority. Yet, here, the gesture speaks to a more internal posture, a defence against the outside world. It's a dance between display and concealment. In this portrait, the individual seems to guard himself, his pose hinting at an era marked by shifting social structures and burgeoning self-awareness. This symbol of protection takes new forms in different eras, showing a cyclical recurrence of human expression.