Portret van een man met snor in uniform 1868 - 1888

Editor: Here we have an albumen print, "Portret van een man met snor in uniform" – which translates to “Portrait of a mustached man in uniform” – created sometime between 1868 and 1888 by Auguste Chapuis. It strikes me as a very formal, almost stiff image, likely intended to project an image of authority. What do you see in it? Curator: Well, beyond the subject, let's consider what the proliferation of such portraits tells us. Photography, still relatively new then, provided a means of documenting and disseminating a particular image, or identity. Why go to the expense of having a portrait made? Editor: I guess to create a lasting impression, or cement a specific image of oneself for posterity? Maybe the sitter was someone of some importance. Curator: Precisely. Consider also, the rise of national identities in this period. Uniforms aren't just clothing; they are powerful symbols of belonging, authority, and loyalty to the nation-state. The meticulous details of the uniform, immortalized through photography, contributed to constructing a shared visual language of national pride. And this wasn't just for personal reasons; families would have these to remember lost soldiers too. Editor: So it is connected with politics. He would have been someone specific, then? Curator: Yes. It is quite probable. By visually linking an individual to the nation, the portrait serves as a microcosm of larger political and social trends. This isn't simply a picture of a man; it is also a symbolic affirmation of the state. This tells a story of power, identity and national feeling during times of nationalism. Editor: So looking at this, what strikes me is the formal element – a means of state affirmation! Curator: Precisely. Art opens a lot of narratives.