Portret van een man in militair uniform 1875 - 1877

Bernardus Bruining captured this man in military attire through photography in the late 19th century. Notice the uniform, a symbol of order and authority, adorned with epaulettes and multiple buttons. The uniform, a motif spanning eras, echoes in ancient Roman armor and Renaissance princely garb. What does it mean to see a man dressed like this? What unconscious memories surface? Consider the evolution: from practical battle gear to ceremonial dress, the uniform speaks of societal structures, power dynamics, and the ever-present human need for belonging and distinction. It represents a projection of strength, yet it also hints at vulnerability, a fragile human beneath a constructed image. It's the interplay between these emotions that continues to engage us today.