Studioportret van een man met met grote bakkebaarden en een vlinderdas c. 1863 - 1866

This is a studio portrait of a man with large sideburns and a bow tie, created by Louis Robert Werner sometime in the mid- to late-19th century. Studio portraits like this one were a common way for people to present themselves in a manner that reflected their social standing and personal identity. The man’s neatly groomed hair, dark suit, and carefully tied bow tie suggest a certain level of affluence and attention to social norms. Yet, his prominent sideburns hint at a subtle rebellion against convention, a desire to express individuality within the confines of societal expectations. Consider the emotional subtext of this image. Does his gaze convey confidence, vulnerability, or something in between? The power of portraiture lies in its ability to capture a moment in time, but also to evoke a sense of timelessness. Ultimately, this portrait invites us to consider how we perform our own identities, and how much of that performance is shaped by the world around us.