Portret van een man met op een tafel naast hem een hoge hoed 1858 - 1863

This is William Hall's photographic 'Portret van een man met op een tafel naast hem een hoge hoed' Here, we witness the rigid formality of the 19th century. Our subject, a man in a dark suit, is captured in a moment of posed stillness. Next to him is a table with a high hat, a symbol of bourgeois status, of belonging to the upper classes. The hat as a symbol has undergone fascinating transformations. Once associated with the Church, it has been secularized as a marker of secular authority and status. Think of the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland; the hat not only signifies social class but also hints at the absurdity of social conventions. The formal attire and the somber expression are a mask that may conceal underlying tensions. Such conventions create a powerful tension. The careful pose is a study in control. The photograph reminds us that the symbols we choose and how we display them tell silent stories about who we are, or who we wish to be.