Drie mannen in kostuum op de Wereldtentoonstelling van 1895 in Amsterdam 1895

This photograph, taken by Guy de Coral & Co. at the World Exhibition of 1895 in Amsterdam, presents three men in costume, standing before a grand archway, a tableau steeped in symbolism. Note the attire of the central figure—a long, flowing robe and a prominent beard, suggesting a character of wisdom or perhaps a prophet. This motif of the wise old man extends back through time. Think of depictions of ancient philosophers, the magi in religious art, or Merlin, the mythic wizard. These figures tap into a deep cultural memory, representing knowledge, guidance, and the esoteric. Yet, consider how the context shifts the meaning. Here, at the World Exhibition, surrounded by displays of progress and modernity, this figure becomes part of a constructed narrative, a performance. The long beard, once a symbol of authority, is now part of a playful costume, a theatrical gesture in an orchestrated spectacle, part of the fair's intention to engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level, evoking a sense of wonder and nostalgia. This photograph, then, invites us to reflect on the cyclical journey of symbols, and how they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.