Portret van een man Possibly 1868

This small photographic print called, "Portret van een man", was made by Guipet. The photographic print is an interesting medium to explore. It's important to remember that portraiture in general used to be something reserved for society's elite, who could afford to commission paintings of themselves. With the invention of photography, portraiture became more accessible to the middle class. Looking at the image, the man appears to be in his late twenties or early thirties, and is wearing a three-piece suit, indicating that he is a man of some status. He is standing next to an ornately decorated pillar. The image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. Understanding the context of this image requires research into photographic studios of the time and the changing notions of social class. The study of such images can tell us a great deal about the democratisation of portraiture and representation.