Mansportret 1880 - 1886

This small portrait of a man was made with photography, a relatively new medium in the 19th century. Photography democratized portraiture; for the first time, people other than the wealthy elite could afford to have their image captured. We see the man in a dark suit standing next to a bentwood chair. He is a bourgeois gentleman, respectably dressed and groomed. The neutral background suggests that this image was taken in a studio. Photography studios emerged as commercial ventures that catered to the growing demand for portraits among the middle classes. The portrait is a cultural artifact which speaks volumes about social status and aspirations in the 19th century. If we knew who this man was, we could consult census records, city directories, and other archival sources to find out more about his life and times. This would give us a richer understanding of the society that shaped the image and that the image helped to shape.