Portret van een man met schort en gereedschap 1874 - 1887

This is a small portrait of a man with an apron and tools by Albert Greiner. Looking at this image, I am struck by how it speaks to the shifting identities within the working class during the industrial era. The man’s tools and apron signify labor, but the photographic format was increasingly accessible, allowing for a new kind of self-representation for those outside the traditional elite. His gaze is direct, even assertive, challenging traditional class structures through representation. The portrait captures an individual staking a claim to visibility and dignity. Consider how the simple act of documenting oneself becomes a statement of identity. It invites us to think about how we value labor, and how those who perform it see themselves in a rapidly changing world.