Portret van een man, staand bij een balustrade 1865 - 1874

This is "Portret van een man, staand bij een balustrade" (Portrait of a man, standing by a balustrade), a photograph by the IJpma Brothers. Though undated, this image evokes the formal studio portraits popular at the turn of the 20th century. Note the trappings of middle-class masculinity: the dark suit, pocket square, and poised stance. These details project an image of respectability and aspiration. But look closer—there’s a subtle tension. The man’s slightly averted gaze hints at a more complex interior life, challenging the stoic ideal. Consider how photography democratized portraiture, allowing more people to participate in shaping their public identities. This image, with its staging and careful composition, is both a personal record and a performance of self. It invites us to reflect on the boundaries between private emotions and public presentation, especially for men navigating societal expectations.