Portret van een jonge man met vlinderstrik 1873 - 1902

Editor: This is a gelatin-silver print, a photographic portrait entitled 'Portret van een jonge man met vlinderstrik', or 'Portrait of a Young Man with a Bow Tie.' It's dated between 1873 and 1902, created by Jacobus Marinus Wilhelmus de Louw. The sepia tones give it such a pensive mood. What do you see in this piece, something that maybe I’ve missed? Curator: What I see is more than just a portrait, it is a whisper from a bygone era. This young man, caught in the amber of time, he's got a certain vulnerability, doesn't he? That bow tie, ever so slightly askew, hinting at a personality perhaps a little rebellious even amidst societal constraints. Do you sense it? Editor: I do now that you mention it! The askew bow tie disrupts any assumptions about stiff formality, bringing unexpected depth. What is it about gelatin silver prints that creates this effect, would you say? Curator: Well, there’s a certain alchemy in gelatin-silver printing. The process itself seems to imbue the image with a dreamlike quality, separating it from stark reality. Each print becomes a unique object, a tangible link to the past. The very process feels like holding memories in your hands. I wonder what *he* was dreaming about. Editor: So interesting! It makes you really think about his dreams and the era in general. It goes way beyond the photographic style itself. Thanks so much. Curator: Indeed. Every click of the camera back then was a small act of immortality. Thank you for prompting the discussion. It was most inspiring!