Portret van de schilder Joseph Henri-Hubert Lies 1866

This is Joseph Dupont's portrait of the painter Joseph Henri-Hubert Lies, made with photography in the 19th century. The portrait offers a glimpse into the life and status of an artist in the 1800s. Lies is captured in a full-body shot, in an outfit that suggests middle-class status. The carefully chosen attire reflects a desire to present a particular identity to the world, as someone respectable and accomplished. Yet, there's also a hint of artistic flair in his choice of patterned cravat. What does it mean to be seen, especially when you are an artist yourself? Dupont captures not just an image, but a constructed identity. We are left to wonder about the relationship between the two Josephs. Does the image capture the essence of its subject, or is it merely a performance of self? This photograph invites us to reflect on the power of representation and the complexities of identity in a rapidly changing world.