Zes portretten van afgestudeerde studenten van Yale University 1895

This collection presents six portraits of Yale University graduates, created by an anonymous photographer. Notice how the composition is structured as a grid, with each portrait carefully arranged within its oval frame. The consistent use of sepia tones creates a unified visual field, emphasizing the formal qualities of light and shadow. The photographer uses soft gradations to model the faces, capturing a sense of depth and volume while maintaining an overall flatness in each frame. The uniformity of the portraits could be interpreted as a commentary on the structures of power and representation. The consistent presentation of these young men—all formally dressed and posed—suggests a collective identity shaped by institutional norms. Each graduate, while distinct, is presented as part of a larger, cohesive whole. The arrangement invites us to consider how such visual systems reinforce social hierarchies and expectations. The images function not merely as individual likenesses but as signifiers of status and belonging within a specific cultural framework.