Portret van een onbekende man 1876 - 1908

This etching, "Portret van een onbekende man," was created by Martinus van Regteren Altena. Altena, working in the late 19th century, was part of a generation grappling with rapid industrialization and shifting social structures. This portrait, with its focus on an anonymous, working-class man, is evocative of that era. The man's weathered face and simple attire speak of labor and resilience, yet his identity remains unknown, reflecting a broader societal tendency to overlook the individual lives of those who keep society moving. Consider the implications of anonymity here; how does it shape our understanding of identity and representation? Is this artwork a commentary on class, a quiet acknowledgement of the lives often unseen? Or is it an attempt to immortalize a person who would otherwise fade from the historical record? Altena invites us to consider the value and dignity inherent in every human life.