Portret van een man met vlinderstrik 1862 - 1899

This is Willem Gerhardus Kuijer's portrait of a man with a bow tie, made with photography. Notice the sitter's carefully chosen attire, particularly the bow tie. While seemingly a minor detail, the bow tie carries echoes of formality and status. Consider how the cravat, its predecessor, was a symbol of the French aristocracy, adopted from Croatian mercenaries, and evolved into various forms of neckwear. The bow tie, a later iteration, became associated with intellectuals and professionals, marking a shift from aristocratic display to bourgeois respectability. The portrait embodies an emotional tension, a delicate balance between the sitter's personal identity and the cultural expectations embedded in his clothing. This visual language is a powerful means of engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The symbolism of dress, as seen here, undergoes constant reinvention across historical contexts, perpetually resurfacing and adapting to new cultural landscapes.