Portret van een man met snor en baard 1880 - 1913

Editor: So, this is "Portret van een man met snor en baard," a photographic portrait of a gentleman with a beard, which loosely translates to "Portrait of a man with mustache and beard." It was produced sometime between 1880 and 1913, and it lives here at the Rijksmuseum. Its a beautiful and dignified photo. What draws your attention to it? Curator: Funny, I wonder about that title, because a mustache is barely perceptible... Anyway, I’m immediately struck by the vulnerability peeking out behind that impressive facial hair. He's almost floating in that bleached-out background, all gentle grays and browns. Editor: Vulnerability? Really? He looks so proper. Curator: It's in his eyes, I think. They don't quite meet the camera's gaze, there's a hesitation, almost sadness. And then I start thinking about all those anonymous portraits of people with very precise mustaches. It makes me consider the ephemeral nature of identity. The pose might say one thing, but his internal monologue may have sung another. What about you? Does photography itself have anything to say in this photo? Editor: I see what you mean. He definitely has a story behind that face. Thinking about the process, the rigid pose required for early photography—that must have shaped the sitter's expression somehow. The photograph's imperfections give it such character. Thank you! Curator: Exactly! Now I almost want to know what 'G' on the opposite photo thinks about it all! Food for thought!