Portret van een onbekende man met snor 1886 - 1906

This is a portrait of an unknown man with a mustache, made by Max Büttinghausen, presumably as a photographic print, sometime around the turn of the century. It is an interesting example of the ways that photographic studios were becoming professionalized at this time. Consider the ways that the image creates meaning through visual codes. This portrait shows a well-dressed man in a suit and tie, a sign of the rising middle class at this time in Germany. In looking at the image, we must consider the historical associations, such as the increasing importance of professionalization and standardization, not only in the business world, but also in the art world. Historians are interested in the institutional context of art. It is worth noting that the photographer has stamped his name and business address directly onto the print, as if to say that the studio itself is an institution worthy of recognition. By looking at archives, we can come to better understand the conditions that shaped this photograph.