Portret van een onbekende Groningse student in maskeradekostuum 1886 - 1897

Curator: This photograph, taken between 1886 and 1897, captures a portrait of an unidentified student in Groningen, Netherlands. The work is credited to Berend Mulder and executed as a gelatin-silver print. The title identifies that he is in masquerade costume. Editor: Wow, what a character! My first thought? 'Posing' before selfies were even a glint in our digital eyes. But it is an endearing sort of affectation, really; it invites curiosity and speculation in a way a simple smile wouldn't. Curator: Absolutely. And in its time, the rise of photography impacted portraiture. Prior to this period portraiture had largely been in the domain of paintings only affordable to the wealthy elite. The wider affordability of photography, alongside evolving artistic attitudes democratised this area. Now many more people could immortalize themselves and stage personas, reflecting shifts in social identity and class representation. Editor: I see that so clearly in the costume. Is it just me, or does the costume scream “borrowed”? Or “rented, for a fancy dress ball”? Either way, it is as if the chap is almost poking fun at a more opulent way of life. The softness of the gelatin-silver print, that sepia tone, it’s like the photograph itself is wearing a costume, something vintage and romantic. I wonder if he knew he was also dressing up for the future—becoming this intriguing little mystery for us to untangle, a century later. Curator: I hadn't thought of it quite that way but I appreciate that. These costumed portraits did allow for expression, both for the subject and the photographer; however, they could also serve to reinforce the prevailing social norms and expectations within student culture. Editor: Ultimately, art leaves us pondering, doesn't it? Looking at this fellow now, I find myself charmed by his get-up and even more curious about what he dreamt of. Curator: Indeed. And that photograph reminds us that what we think we know can often be as much a mask as the costumes that people put on to reflect back a specific presentation.