Studioportret van een man met snor en baard in een jasje met fluwelen kraag c. 1863 - 1866

This striking portrait was captured by Abdullah Frères, sometime in the late 19th century. The photograph offers a window into the image of bourgeois masculinity. Notice the sitter's neatly groomed beard and mustache, symbols of virility and wisdom in many cultures, harking back to ancient philosophers and biblical figures. The bow tie, precisely knotted, hints at an embrace of modern fashion. The velvet collar jacket suggests a desire to indicate sophistication and refinement. Think back to similar beards, from the statues of antiquity to the Renaissance portraits of dignified merchants. The meaning shifts, yet the symbolic weight remains. Similarly, the adoption of then-modern attire is an interesting dance between tradition and modernity. This image speaks to the ongoing dialogue between the past and the present, reminding us that cultural symbols constantly evolve.