Portret van een man 1878 - 1900

This photograph, titled 'Portret van een man', was created by Bacard Fils. This type of photograph would have been popular as a token of remembrance, or a calling card. The sepia tone and formal composition suggests a desire for timelessness and a connection to established artistic traditions. The man's suit signifies his membership within a certain social class, and the institutional framing of the picture itself – literally, the frame around the image, but also figuratively, the conventions of portraiture – reinforces social norms around status and presentation. By researching studio photography in this era, we can learn more about the ways individuals sought to represent themselves within a rapidly changing society and the increasing professionalization of image-making. By studying such images, we can better understand the social and institutional contexts that shape both the creation and reception of art.