Portret van een Amsterdamse student met muts, tuniek en maillot 1871 - 1893

Ed. Radermacher created this portrait of an Amsterdam student, likely in the late 19th century, using photography, a technology then still relatively new. The student’s garb, complete with a feathered hat, tunic, and what appears to be a sword, signals membership in a student association, a common feature of university life in many European countries at this time. These associations often had their own rituals, traditions, and even uniforms, fostering a sense of camaraderie and identity among members. The photograph, taken in a studio setting, suggests a degree of self-awareness and a desire to project a certain image. This image speaks to the social structures of the time, particularly the role of universities in shaping the identities of young men from privileged backgrounds. It's also a sign of the way institutions create norms and project those norms via imagery. To fully understand the image, we might delve into the archives of Amsterdam's student associations or explore historical sources on the culture of student life in the Netherlands during this period. We can then understand what this image meant, and how it was seen at the time.