Portret van Charles Rochussen 1860 - 1865

Curator: The Rijksmuseum holds this albumen print, titled "Portret van Charles Rochussen," created by Maurits Verveer sometime between 1860 and 1865. It’s quite striking. Editor: My first thought is of understated authority. There's a certain calmness radiating from this man, though his slightly raised eyebrows hint at intellectual engagement, a silent question perhaps. Curator: Charles Rochussen was indeed a notable figure in his time, celebrated as a painter, draughtsman, and printmaker. Verveer captured a sense of bourgeois respectability, reflective of the sitter's social standing and profession. These portrait photographs became increasingly popular as symbols of status. Editor: The book and the rather ornate table he’s leaning on reinforce that image of status. The books speak to his intellectualism, but it’s interesting, isn't it, how objects can be coded to project a very specific image. Curator: Exactly, the stage-like backdrop with that draped curtain. Every element reinforces that middle-class ideal the bourgeoisie promoted at the time. And, of course, the relatively new medium of photography lent itself to democratizing portraiture, making it accessible to wider segments of society. Editor: Looking closer at his attire, it feels deliberately unremarkable. He doesn't need extravagant clothing; his persona speaks for itself. I wonder what those books on the table signify? Are they props, or texts of particular importance to him? The way his fingers almost possessively mark his page… Curator: Sadly, the contents of those volumes are lost to us, though you are right to ponder it. What I think is also noteworthy is the way photography became an instrument to codify identity within social strata at the time. Verveer's picture of Rochussen really says so much about the burgeoning middle class and its self-image. Editor: And about photography's function as a tool for constructing and solidifying identity in general, it's not so far removed from our modern relationship with imagery. This piece helps illustrate how the power of images has been manipulated over time. Curator: Indeed, and Verveer’s photograph prompts us to look beneath the surface, as Rochussen’s image presents us a picture of middle class respectability and an example of photography’s emerging role.