Portret van een man in kostuum met een bril, vermoedelijk J.G. Boelen c. 1913 - 1914

This photograph, by American Automatic Fotografie, captures a man in a suit. The sepia tones give it that old-timey feel, like a memory fading at the edges. The suit and tie are so formal and dark, and I can’t help but wonder what kind of impression he wanted to make. The way the light catches the curve of his face, there is this real humanity shining through. It's interesting how the framing of the portrait mimics the shape of a mirror, as if asking us to see ourselves reflected in his gaze. This piece reminds me of August Sander's portraits, each image documents a kind of personal and collective history. As with Sander's work, this piece reminds us that art is less about answers and more about the questions it provokes.