Groepsportret van achttien mannen en een hond 1868 - 1886

This group portrait of eighteen men and a dog was made by Hills & Saunders, most likely in England. The lack of precise dating makes it difficult to understand the precise social context of its production. However, we can use the visual codes in the photograph, such as the men's fashion and hairstyles, the sepia tone, and the formal composition of the group, to make some educated guesses about its cultural meaning. It was most likely made in the late 19th century. The portrait might have been commissioned by an exclusive men’s club, a college fraternity, or another similar group. As historians, we can dig into archives, institutional records, and photographic collections to understand the significance of these kinds of images in their time. How were they used to project an image of power, success, and social cohesion? What kinds of visual strategies did they employ to create the sense of an exclusive group identity?