Portret van een jonge man met staf in de hand, leunend op de leuning van een stoel 1867 - 1879

Kannemans & Zoon created this portrait of a young man with a staff, leaning on the back of a chair, using an unknown photographic process. This photograph invites us to consider the performance of masculinity in the 19th century. The young man's posture, leaning casually on the chair with a staff in hand, speaks to a carefully constructed image of leisure and authority. How does this staged informality relate to the expectations placed upon young men of this era, particularly in relation to class and social standing? The studio setting and the formal attire suggest a deliberate presentation of self, hinting at the sitter’s desire to project a certain identity to the world. The photograph also highlights the dynamics between the subject and the photographer, raising questions about representation, agency, and the power of the gaze. What does it mean to be seen, and who controls the narrative of that seeing?