Portret van een jongeman in militair uniform 1874 - 1884

This is a portrait of a young man in military uniform by Pieter Vlaanderen, made with photography. The image’s strength resides in its composition. Notice the subject's pose: upright, formal, his gaze averted slightly. The artist directs our attention through light and shadow. The light catches the metallic details of the uniform, drawing the eye. The composition is bisected by the line of his coat, creating a visual division between the adorned side with epaulettes and the plainer side. This division invites us to consider the duality inherent in representation. The subject is presented in a manner that balances military decorum with individual character. The sepia tone flattens depth, reducing the image to essential forms, making the photograph exist not just as a mimetic representation but as an object with its own aesthetic and structural integrity. Ultimately, Vlaanderen's work underscores that portraiture, even through a relatively new medium like photography, engages with complex questions of identity, representation, and the construction of the self.