Portret van een man met snor in militair uniform 1860 - 1900

Julius Russ made this small portrait of a moustachioed man in military uniform as a Carte-de-Visite, a calling card, at some unknown date. In the 19th century, the advent of photography democratized portraiture. While oil paintings of elites had long served as symbols of status and power, the new technology allowed a wider segment of society to participate in the creation and distribution of images. This particular image, however, testifies to the continuing importance of military rank as a social signifier. It is in the very nature of a military institution to be concerned with hierarchy and power. The medals and uniform worn by the subject serve to locate him within this hierarchy, both for his own self-representation and for the benefit of those with whom he exchanged calling cards. Historians use a range of sources to understand such an image, from military records to sociological studies of class and status. Approaching a work of art with an understanding of its social and institutional context can reveal a great deal about its meaning and significance.