Portret van een zittende man met snor en baard 1873 - 1900

This portrait of a seated man with a moustache and beard was made by Nadar, the pseudonym of Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, using photography, likely sometime in the mid-19th century. Nadar was a well-known Parisian portrait photographer, caricaturist, journalist, novelist, and balloonist. His photographic portraits of artists, writers, and intellectuals offer insight into the cultural and intellectual life of Paris. Nadar helped elevate photography to the level of fine art. His stylish studio became a gathering place for prominent figures of the Parisian intelligentsia, reflecting photography's growing status as a medium capable of capturing the essence of individuals within a specific social milieu. Understanding such a portrait requires research into the sitter's identity, the photographer's artistic choices, and the social conventions of portraiture. By exploring these dimensions, we can gain insights into the cultural values and power dynamics of 19th-century France.