Portret van een zittende man met wandelstok 1867 - 1870

This small photograph captures a seated man with a walking stick, created by S. van Caspel & Stapert. The portrait’s formal composition speaks volumes about social status and the rise of photography in 19th-century Europe. Consider the sitter’s attire: the dark, tailored suit, crisp bow tie, and the walking stick, all visual cues denoting respectability and belonging to a certain social stratum. The photograph itself, as a relatively new medium, played a crucial role in shaping and reinforcing these social hierarchies. Photography studios emerged as institutions where individuals could have their likeness captured and circulated, solidifying their place within the social fabric. Further research into the archives of photography studios and social registers of the time can provide insight into the subject's identity, and the precise cultural meanings of the sartorial choices. Through understanding the institutions and social practices of its time, this portrait offers a window into the values and norms of 19th-century society.