Portret van G.W. Vreede, hoogleraar in de faculteit Rechtsgeleerdheid aan de universiteit van Utrecht 1860 - 1880

This is Abraham Adrianus Vermeulen's photograph of G.W. Vreede, a professor of law at Utrecht University. While undated, the inscription 1841 suggests it may have been taken around the time of Vreede’s appointment. Consider how photography, in its nascent stages, democratized portraiture. Once a privilege of the wealthy, portraiture became accessible to a wider segment of the middle class. This image, in its formal presentation, speaks to the sitter's professional standing and intellectual pursuits. Vreede's identity as a legal scholar is emphasized, aligning with the 19th-century emphasis on reason and order. It is important to remember that legal structures of this era were built on a foundation of colonialism and patriarchy, influencing the social hierarchies of the time. By inviting us to consider the subject's position within the legal framework, the photograph provides a glimpse into the construction and maintenance of societal power structures. As such, this portrait serves not only as a depiction of an individual, but as a lens through which to examine the values and power dynamics of 19th-century Dutch society.