Portret van een onbekende jongeman met hoed 1863 - 1871

Editor: We’re looking at a photographic portrait from between 1863 and 1871, attributed to Willem Cornelis van Dijk. It's titled "Portret van een onbekende jongeman met hoed," or "Portrait of an Unknown Young Man with Hat." The subdued sepia tone gives it such a melancholic, nostalgic feel. What stands out to you in this image? Curator: Well, immediately I see a fascinating intersection of class and the democratisation of portraiture in the mid-19th century. While oil portraits were historically the domain of the wealthy, the advent of photography allowed a broader segment of society to participate in image-making. Editor: So this young man, whoever he was, likely wouldn't have had his portrait painted? Curator: Probably not, or at least not easily. Consider the props, the chair, the carefully posed stance with his hat. These elements mimic the conventions of formal portraiture, suggesting an aspiration to a certain social standing. Do you think it conveys this well? Editor: It definitely makes him look important, but there's something very…ordinary about him. Not in a bad way! It's like the aspiration you mentioned is colliding with reality. Curator: Precisely. And that tension tells a story about a society undergoing profound changes. The rise of the middle class, the changing notions of identity... All are reflected here in this single image. I wonder what other political tensions or implications can be extracted from portraiture and the rise of image making? Editor: That makes me consider photography as a socio-political statement in its own right. So, from what appeared to be a melancholic snapshot we have unveiled the democratization of art making at the time, thank you!