Portret van een onbekende man Possibly 1853 - 1855

This is Johann Peter Berghaus’s ‘Portret van een onbekende man’, made with etching around the mid-19th century. During this period, portraiture served as a powerful marker of status and identity, predominantly for the bourgeois class. Notice how the sitter is portrayed amidst symbols of literacy and learning, emphasizing intellectual prowess and social standing. The books, the suit, the carefully styled hair - all speak to a deliberate construction of identity, reflecting the values of the time. Berghaus, who himself navigated the art world, was intimately familiar with the dynamics of class and representation. Yet, the subject remains unknown to us. This anonymity invites us to contemplate the many untold stories of individuals whose identities have been lost. What narratives might this portrait hold about ambition, social mobility, and the aspirations of a generation? It's a poignant reminder of the complexities inherent in the act of representation.