Portret van een oudere man met hoed c. 1863 - 1870

Carl Rensing created this albumen print titled, "Portret van een oudere man met hoed," sometime in the nineteenth century. The photograph presents an elderly man, formally dressed, seated with his legs crossed. The style and pose suggest an effort to convey dignity and perhaps social standing. The advent of photography in the 19th century had profound effects on portraiture. It made images more accessible to a broader public, impacting both the art market and social hierarchies. Photography democratized representation, challenging traditional painted portraits reserved for the wealthy elite. Institutions like the Rijksmuseum, by collecting and displaying such works, play a role in shaping our understanding of this shift and its social implications. Understanding this image requires that we also consider the cultural norms around portraiture and representation in 19th century Netherlands. Careful examination of archives and historical sources can shed light on the social role of photography and its place within the broader visual culture of the time.