Portret van een man staand bij een stoel, aangeduid als Ringers Possibly 1866

Editor: So, here we have a gelatin-silver print from around 1866, attributed to Jacob Hohmann. It’s a portrait, formally titled "Portret van een man staand bij een stoel, aangeduid als Ringers" - that translates to, "Portrait of a man standing by a chair, referred to as Ringers." My first impression is…stately. Maybe even a little melancholic? What do you see? Curator: Melancholic is a wonderful way to put it! I feel that too. But look closer, doesn’t it also strike you as… theatrical? The way he leans, the ornately carved chair – almost like a prop. And it really speaks to how photography, still quite novel then, was consciously mimicking the visual language of painting and theater to legitimise itself as an art form. It's not *just* a photograph, it's a performance, a construction. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it, who *is* Ringers? Editor: It does make me wonder! It feels like he’s trying to project an image of himself. Curator: Exactly! And the greyscale! Consider the almost unbearable limitations the lack of colour imposed upon the photographer - yet see the textures! The felt of the jacket, the dull gleam of his hair! What *couldn't* be, enhances what *is*. Editor: That's fascinating; I hadn't thought about the colour limitations as an enhancement, only as a limit! The textures really do jump out. It's funny how constraints can spark creativity, isn’t it? Curator: It's almost *always* the case. Every limitation holds a universe of freedom, when perceived the right way. A wonderful opportunity for us all, if you ask me! Editor: Absolutely, seeing this photo with your perspective has shifted how I look at early photography! Curator: And seeing it with your eyes makes *me* reflect anew on the magic in it. Always so rewarding!