Portret van een staande man met hoed in de hand, leunend op een balustrade 1860 - 1894

This is a photographic portrait of a man standing with a hat in his hand, leaning on a balustrade, made by Ghémar Frères. The man's posture and the way he holds his hat are particularly fascinating. Observe how the hat, traditionally a symbol of status and authority, is held loosely, almost as if detached from its symbolic weight. This gesture appears repeatedly through history. We can see it in classical statues of Roman emperors and Renaissance portraits of merchants, each holding an object that represents power or trade. Yet, the nonchalant way in which the man holds the hat suggests a detachment, a modern sensibility questioning inherited status. The balustrade also places him in a context of wealth and privilege, yet there is an almost melancholic air about him. This photograph captures a moment of transition, the old symbols of power are being re-evaluated in a new era, reflecting a psychological tension between tradition and change. The symbols are not static; they evolve, resurface, and are constantly reinterpreted.