Portret van een jongen met vlinderstrik en mantel c. 1850 - 1870

František Fridrich, a 19th-century photographer, captured this portrait of a young boy with a bow tie and coat. The ambrotype which measures 87 by 53 mm presents a carefully constructed image of youth and nascent masculinity. The boy, with his slightly disheveled hair and serious gaze, stands against a neutral backdrop, his attire suggesting a performance of maturity, and perhaps, entry into manhood. The stern look in the boys eyes contrasts against the innocence a child, an identity performativity which was common in the 19th century. Fridrich, who lived and worked in a society undergoing significant social changes, was keen to capture a moment of transition. How does the weight of expectation shape our understanding of identity, even at a young age?