Portret van een man met bakkebaarden 1884 - 1895

This tiny portrait of a man with sideburns was produced by C. van der Aa & J. Chrispijn as part of a photo album. What makes this image so fascinating is the way it encapsulates the rise of photography as a tool for social representation. Likely made in the Netherlands, the cultural norms of the time dictated a formal presentation. The man's dark suit and bow tie, combined with his carefully groomed sideburns, speak to a desire for respectability and perhaps a certain social standing. Photography studios emerged as important, yet not always financially stable, institutions. The collaborations between artists like van der Aa and Chrispijn reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of the era, but also the potential economic challenges of operating as an artist within a new visual culture. By consulting period newspapers, business directories, and genealogical records, one might construct a richer picture of not only the sitter, but also the visual world that he inhabited.