Portret van een man 1860 - 1900

This is a portrait of a man by A. Tonnsend. Without any indication of when or where this portrait was made, we can look for details that might give us a clue. Consider the subject’s clothing, for example. The cut of his suit and the style of his moustache might help to narrow down the time and place. These visual codes may reveal more about social status and profession. The very act of commissioning a portrait suggests a certain level of affluence and social standing. Who was this man, and what did he want to convey about himself through this image? To answer those questions, one could consult period newspapers, fashion plates, and social registers, piecing together a picture of the world in which this portrait was created. Art history thrives on this kind of contextual investigation, revealing the complex interplay between art and society.