Mansportret 1880 - 1886

This small portrait of a man was made by an anonymous artist using photography. The sitter's appearance gives us a lot of information, though we don't know when exactly it was taken. In the late 19th century, the rise of photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible to the middle class, not just the elite. The man's attire, a dark suit with a tie, suggests a professional or bourgeois background. His carefully groomed mustache and eyeglasses were markers of status and intellectualism. What is especially evocative is what the portrait conceals, which is the man's inner life. While photography promises a likeness, it also raises questions about representation and identity. Does this image capture the essence of the man, or does it present a carefully constructed facade? The portrait becomes a mirror reflecting societal expectations and individual aspirations, leaving us to wonder about the untold stories behind his eyes.