Portret van een jonge man met stropdas 1881 - 1908

This is Nicolaas Schuitvlot's "Portret van een jonge man met stropdas". What do we learn about identity by examining the conventions of portraiture? This photograph captures a young man, neatly dressed, gazing off-center, embodying the poised, middle-class respectability of his era. What we see, however, is a carefully constructed image shaped by societal expectations and Schuitvlot’s artistic choices. The man's attire speaks to his social standing, yet the photograph hints at untold aspects of his identity, absent from the traditional representation. In this small portrait, Schuitvlot captures more than just a likeness; he encapsulates an era's aspirations and constraints. The emotional resonance of this piece lies in the quiet tension between what is revealed and what remains hidden, inviting us to consider the complexities inherent in every representation.