Portret van een man met een das, mogelijk Piet Boelen 1894

Ludwik Szacinski De Ravicz created this portrait of a man, possibly Piet Boelen. Its small size speaks to its function as an intimate memento, likely made during a time of great change and technological advancement. The portrait offers a glimpse into the construction of masculinity during the late 19th century. The sitter’s formal attire, complete with a meticulously tied bow tie, signals respectability and adherence to social norms. Yet, the photograph also hints at individuality, perhaps challenging the rigid expectations of gender and class through a personal expression of style. Szacinski, with his own identity as an artist navigating shifting cultural landscapes, may have been attuned to the nuances of self-presentation. Consider how portraits like this one served not only to document likeness, but also to project an image of selfhood in a world undergoing rapid transformation. They capture the silent dialogues between identity and representation.