Portret van een man met snor en stropdas 1900 - 1928

This is a portrait of a man with a moustache and tie, made by Jan Frederik Blöte. Although the date is unknown, its photographic structure and sepia tones provide insight into a specific time. The composition centres on the man's poised symmetry, softened by the light. The artist's careful attention to texture, from the smoothness of the face to the patterned tie, introduces contrasting codes of elegance and detail. It is worth considering how such visual contrasts relate to semiotic interpretations, where clothing and adornment act as signifiers of social status. The photograph's formal qualities—its light, symmetry, and texture—invite us to contemplate the complex interplay between visual representation and social identity. The portrait thus functions as a study into the relationship between appearance and societal roles.