Portret van een man met wandelstok in de hand, staand bij een zuil met hoge hoed, aangeduid als De Greef 1850 - 1887

Leonard de Koningh made this photograph of a man, thought to be De Greef, sometime in the mid-19th century. Taken in the Netherlands, this portrait offers a window into the visual codes of bourgeois identity during a period of significant social and economic change. The man’s attire – his tailored coat, waistcoat, and neatly arranged tie – speaks to the rise of a commercial class that found ways to signify their status through dress and manners. Note how the walking stick and the top hat – placed deliberately on the classical column – function as props in the construction of this persona. At this time, photography was still a relatively new medium, and portraiture was largely the domain of the wealthy. Consider the social implications of having one's likeness captured and disseminated. By studying such images alongside archival materials like trade directories and fashion journals, we can better understand the aspirations and self-perceptions of this emerging social group.