Politieagent met pijp before 1898

'Politieagent met pijp', or 'Police Officer with Pipe', is a black and white photograph by W. Charles. Consider the role of a police officer in society during the time this photograph was taken. The individual is presented here as a figure of authority, and as such, evokes discussions about power, control, and the maintenance of social order. The subject, a police officer, has his head down and his hands pressed firmly against a wall, perhaps deep in contemplation or in an introspective moment, a far cry from our contemporary understanding of law enforcers. The photograph captures the individual’s emotional state. It prompts us to question the emotional and psychological toll of authority, as well as how personal identity is shaped by the roles society assigns us. Does the individual find solace or torment in that role?