Portret van een onbekende man in uniform 1895 - 1906

This photograph of an unknown man in uniform was produced by Willem Eduard Coenraad Dulfer, a photographer working in the Netherlands at the turn of the 20th century. The image presents us with a world in which military service was often compulsory, and uniforms visually represented the hierarchy of social class. Photography, still a relatively new medium at this time, was becoming more accessible, and portraits like this one offered individuals a way to publicly assert their identity and status. The man's formal attire, coupled with the photographer's studio imprint at the bottom, suggests a deliberate construction of self. Further research into Dutch military history, social stratification, and the development of photography as a commercial enterprise would give us a richer understanding of this man’s position. It could also shine a light on the social and political meanings that were attached to such images in the Netherlands at the time.