Portret van een (vermoedelijk) Nederlandse militair, staand bij een tafel met sabel c. 1860 - 1880

This portrait of a presumed Dutch military man, standing by a table with a sabre, was created by Bernardus Bruining, sometime in the 19th century. The sepia tones and the subject's stern gaze evoke a sense of formality and power. The composition, though simple, conveys a hierarchy through posture and prop placement, and the man's figure is rigidly framed by the table and the vertical border, which suggests a controlled environment. The materiality of the photograph itself—its small size, the slight fading—adds another layer, acting as a signifier of time and history. The photograph functions as a cultural artifact, encoding ideas about masculinity, class, and national identity. Here, the subject's uniform and the saber serve as visual signifiers, communicating his status and role within a specific social and political context. Ultimately, this small photograph serves as an intricate sign, where every element—from the subject's pose to the faded tones—is meticulously organized to convey a sense of authority and historical significance.