Portret van Désiré Tassin before 1863

This is a portrait of Désiré Tassin, an engineer, made anonymously in an unknown medium. The portrait, presented within the pages of a book, captures Tassin in a pose of bourgeois respectability, a visual declaration of his social standing and professional identity. However, what stories remain untold in this image? What aspects of Tassin's life and work are deliberately highlighted, and what are strategically obscured? The lack of explicit historical context invites us to consider the broader implications of representation. While the portrait ostensibly celebrates Tassin's achievements, it also reflects the societal structures of its time, prompting questions about inclusion, exclusion, and the power dynamics inherent in portraiture. The portrait stands as a reminder that every image is shaped by the values and biases of its creators and consumers, and that understanding these influences is essential to interpreting its meaning.