Portret van H. Coster als jongeman c. 1879 - 1882

This photograph by Max Büttinghausen captures H. Coster as a young man, frozen in time within an oval frame. The bow tie, a seemingly simple adornment, speaks volumes. Consider how such a knot, initially a functional tie, evolved into a symbol of elegance and status across different eras. From ancient neck cloths signifying rank to the elaborate lace jabots of European nobility, this gesture of adornment resurfaces repeatedly. The bow tie, in particular, became a marker of bourgeois respectability. This portrait reveals the fascinating dance between utility and symbolism. This is how even the smallest details carry the weight of history and cultural memory.