Portret van een man met hoed in de hand, staand bij een fauteuil 1865 - 1903

This is a photograph by De Lavieter & Co., portraying a man with a hat in his hand, standing by an armchair. The hat, a seemingly simple accessory, speaks volumes about identity and social presentation. Consider the hat's historical significance: from the ancient Roman pileus, symbolizing freedom, to the diverse head coverings indicating profession or status throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance. In this portrait, the man's hat is a marker of bourgeois respectability, yet its casual hold suggests a relaxed, approachable demeanor. This gesture of holding a hat can be seen echoed across centuries. Think of Renaissance portraits where a glove or a book is held, not merely as props but as extensions of the sitter’s character. The act of holding becomes a form of self-revelation. Observe how this symbolic act has recurred, shifting in meaning yet retaining its essence, carried through time by the powerful undercurrents of collective memory.