Portret van een jonge man in kostuum met zwaard, aangeduid als E.P. van Lanschot 1872 - 1900

Curator: Well, this is peculiar! I love stumbling upon such intriguing pieces. Here we have a photograph dating back to sometime between 1872 and 1900. It’s currently housed at the Rijksmuseum, titled “Portret van een jonge man in kostuum met zwaard, aangeduid als E.P. van Lanschot." Editor: Right away, it strikes me as an interesting blend of confidence and perhaps, just a hint of self-consciousness? There's a theatrical quality to the whole scene, the period costume within what appears to be a sepia-toned photographic print—a study in contrasts. Curator: Precisely! That interplay between the constructed persona and the rawness of photography is fascinating. And the oval frame only adds to that sense of contained history. Let’s dive into this young man’s attire. Editor: Of course. The young man’s costume is striking; note the prominently displayed heraldic eagle on his chest. In iconography, eagles almost universally represent power, dominion, but often pride, arrogance, even wrath if you look back into bestiaries and medieval demonology. Curator: And consider it is positioned right over the heart. Is it intended as some representation of how the soul may appear with its divine aspirations, but inevitably bearing pride, if interpreted traditionally? This photograph does encourage some rumination about tradition and modern portrayal. Do you think it reflects that transition, that very fin-de-siècle tension? Editor: The awkwardness of his pose makes me suspect a humorous intention, actually. This feels much closer to play-acting than high-minded political statement, maybe the record of some lavish costume party for elites. Look at the plainness of the painted background. But perhaps a clue rests in what we *don't* see! The subject isn't exactly *wielding* his swords with vigor—much more tentative, isn't he? The eagle remains the constant though, its symbolic importance unwavering across centuries. Curator: Indeed. All said and considered, It all gives the artwork its particular enigmatic character! A puzzle, hinting at stories unspoken. I'm glad we paused to really look. Editor: Me too. I keep circling back to that eagle— a perfect reminder that even in play, some symbols retain all their gravity!