Portret van een man, staand bij een tafel 1855 - 1870

Editor: Here we have a portrait, entitled 'Portret van een man, staand bij een tafel,' which translates to 'Portrait of a Man Standing by a Table,' made sometime between 1855 and 1870. It’s a daguerreotype, a very early form of photography. What strikes me is the sitter's calm demeanor despite, what I imagine, the incredibly long exposure time. What's your read of the photograph? Curator: Ah, a daguerreotype! It's like peering into a frosted mirror reflecting the mid-19th century. This man... I wonder what his story is? His gaze seems so direct, doesn’t it? Almost defiant, as if saying, “Yes, this is me. Capture it if you can.” Think of the chemistries involved, the alchemy of capturing a likeness in those days. What do you make of the composition – the chair, the curtain? Do they seem like mere props, or are they saying something more? Editor: Well, the chair and curtain do seem like typical portrait studio fare. But the chair especially looks uncomfortable, all spindly legs and stiff upholstery! It does make me wonder if that adds to the picture of him holding himself with dignity in a potentially undignified or uncomfortable situation. Curator: Precisely! It's theater, but theater of the real. He's playing a role, yet he’s still undeniably himself. I am more interested in what isn't there. What dreams or disappointments reside behind those eyes? This little photographic echo pulls all those questions back to the present. Perhaps that is what makes photography so engaging even today! Editor: I hadn't thought about the role-playing aspect so directly. So much for photography being simply a “realistic” medium. Thanks, that really changes how I see it.