Portret van een man in militair uniform c. 1865 - 1875

This small photograph captures a man in military uniform, made by Willem Cornelis van Dijk in the mid-19th century. It's a window into the visual culture of the time when military service was deeply intertwined with notions of masculinity, citizenship, and national identity. Consider the sitter’s pose, which is carefully constructed to convey authority, but perhaps also, vulnerability. Are we meant to see this man as a symbol of strength, or as an individual performing his role in society? The image itself exists as a commodity. As such, it might operate as a tool to reinforce social hierarchies, or a way to humanize those who served. The photograph invites us to consider the complex layers of identity and representation, and the ways in which the personal and political intersect.