Portret van een onbekende man in een stoel c. 1880 - 1920

This is an undated photograph of an unknown man, made by Laurus van Groningen in Amsterdam. It’s a striking image, especially when we consider the democratizing potential of photography at the time. In previous eras, portraiture was reserved for the wealthy elite, but photography offered a chance for ordinary people to participate in the visual culture and make a statement about their identity. Looking at the image itself, notice how the man is formally dressed, seated in an ornate chair, with flowers in the background. These elements suggest a certain level of social aspiration. The photograph would have served as a personal memento, but it also speaks to broader social trends in the Netherlands at the time, such as the rise of the middle class and the desire for social mobility. To understand this photograph better, we can look at the history of photography studios in Amsterdam, the social and economic conditions of the time, and the visual codes of portraiture. By doing so, we can appreciate the photograph not just as an image of an individual, but as a reflection of its time.