Portret van onbekende man c. 1870 - 1890

This is a photograph of an unknown man by Albert Greiner. This small portrait gives us a glimpse into the world of 19th-century photography and the rising middle class in the Netherlands. Think about photography's democratization of portraiture during this era. Before, only the wealthy could afford painted portraits. Now, with advancements in photography, a wider segment of society had access to visual representation. Notice the man’s attire: the suit, bow tie, and neatly groomed hair, tell us about his middle-class status and aspiration to self-improvement. It’s possible that this photograph was created as a carte-de-visite, a small portrait that could be easily exchanged among friends and family. These photographs became a popular form of social currency and a way to participate in the visual culture of the time. By studying photographs such as these, art historians and cultural critics can piece together a more complete picture of the social and cultural values of the past.