Portret van Bastiaan de Greef staand bij een tafel 1864 - 1879

Editor: Here we have "Portret van Bastiaan de Greef staand bij een tafel," taken sometime between 1864 and 1879 by Leonard de Koningh. It’s an albumen print, giving it this wonderfully sepia, old-world feel. The man himself looks quite serious, almost as if he is acting for posterity! What draws your eye when you look at this photograph? Curator: Oh, you’re right; he *is* posing for eternity, isn't he? For me, it’s the light. See how it sculpts his face, particularly around the brow? Makes him look like a Roman bust unearthed from centuries past! And that little flick of shadow under his cheek – masterful. It’s odd how staged photographs from that period now radiate something almost alien to our contemporary candid sensibilities. Have you felt that? Editor: Absolutely! There’s a deliberate artificiality, and, honestly, something strangely touching about it. The way they curated their own image. Almost theatrical. But where do you think the realism comes in? Curator: Good question. Despite the posed nature, it’s brutally honest. There’s no airbrushing, no digital magic, just him, standing there with all his imperfections – you can almost feel his nervousness and resolve mixed together. We're not just looking at de Greef; we are contemplating our strange urge to stop the clock! And I always enjoy pondering the photographer's part too: were they friends, rivals, lovers, or strangers? Each encounter could change everything... Editor: It’s a far cry from a modern selfie! I hadn't considered all the complex social possibilities. Thinking about this makes me reconsider those studio portraits with a renewed appreciation for a specific type of performance. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! Photography is a funny old mirror, and thinking about how that reflection ripples across time helps make sense of what has been left behind.