Portret van Geldolph Adriaan de Lange c. 1850

This is an anonymous portrait of Geldolph Adriaan de Lange, created using an early photographic process. The portrait speaks to the rise of the middle class, and their increasing desire to participate in cultural and political life. The development of photography provided new ways of seeing and representing oneself and one's community. Consider the conventional depiction of men in positions of power, often represented with symbols of intellect or status; here, De Lange holds what appears to be a book, signifying education and possibly affluence. The formal attire and composed posture also speak to a desire for respectability and social standing. The identity of the artist is unknown, but we can consider how the act of creating this portrait, with its inherent biases and perspectives, reflects the society and its values at the time. What does it mean to see this image today, understanding the power dynamics at play in its creation and the historical context it represents?