Portret van een onbekende man 1879 - 1889

This photographic portrait of an unknown man was made by Joseph Gould Bullingham, who was active in Plymouth, England, toward the end of the nineteenth century. During this era, photography underwent rapid democratization, becoming increasingly accessible to the middle classes. Studios like Heath's in Plymouth capitalized on this trend, offering affordable portraiture services. This image reflects the Victorian era's emphasis on formality and respectability, evident in the sitter's neatly groomed beard and the conventional studio setting. While the sitter remains anonymous, his attire—a striped tie and tweed jacket—offers a glimpse into the sartorial codes of the time. The oval vignette and sepia tones further evoke the aesthetic conventions of late 19th-century photography. Understanding this image requires delving into the social history of photography, examining studio directories, and census records. Such research helps reveal the broader cultural context in which images like these were produced and consumed, shedding light on the values and aspirations of Victorian society.