Portret van een jongeman 1875 - 1900

R.J.M. Little made this portrait of a young man using albumen silver print. This portrait gives us insight into the visual culture of its time, probably somewhere in Europe in the late 19th century. The young man is wearing a three-piece suit, a symbol of middle-class respectability. The carefully composed pose, with his hand resting casually on the chair, conveys a sense of self-assurance. But what does this image tell us about the social conditions of the time? Was this portrait intended for personal use, or was it a public statement of identity? To understand the context of this image better, we might turn to photography journals or social surveys from the period. We can consider how photography studios emerged as institutions that both reflected and shaped social norms. Ultimately, by understanding the social and institutional context of this portrait, we can gain insight into the visual culture of its time.