Portret ven een jongen in matrozenkiel met een modelboot 1880 - 1920

This photographic portrait of a boy in a sailor suit with a model boat was created by A. van der Stok, using monochromatic tones. It is small, framed within a larger set of images. The composition is structured around the boy as the central figure, who stands adjacent to a small, ornate table displaying the model boat. The monochromatic palette enhances the textures and forms, emphasizing the smooth planes of the boy's clothing against the detailed rigging of the boat. The boy’s attire and the boat act as signs, communicating social status and aspirations. This work can be viewed through the lens of semiotics, where clothing and objects denote specific cultural meanings. The boy, dressed in a sailor suit, embodies the ideals of adventure, and a connection with maritime power. Ultimately, this portrait functions not merely as a visual record but as a constructed representation of identity, using formal elements to convey deeper cultural narratives about childhood and societal values.