Portret van een jonge man in kostuum, aangeduid als W.H.A. Elink Schuurman 1860 - 1905

Jan Goedeljee made this small portrait of W.H.A. Elink Schuurman using photography sometime in the 19th century. During this period, photography was rapidly evolving from a laborious, alchemical process to a more streamlined industrial activity. The rise of photography studios meant that portraiture was no longer just for the wealthy; it became accessible to the middle classes. The subject’s costume suggests participation in a play or masquerade, reflecting a culture of theatricality and role-playing. The carefully chosen garments, while not inherently precious, speak to a culture of self-presentation and social aspiration. Each element of the costume, from the ruff to the hat, required skilled labor, demonstrating how even seemingly frivolous items are products of extensive work. Looking at this image, we should appreciate how the materials and modes of production profoundly influenced not only the image's appearance, but also its cultural role. Photography democratized image-making, even as it perpetuated a system of social and economic visibility.