Portret van Pieter Hendrik Schoute, hoogleraar wis- en natuurkunde in Groningen en rector magnificus van 1892 tot 1893 before 1893

This is a photograph of Pieter Hendrik Schoute, a professor at Groningen University, created by Friedrich Julius von Kolkow. The photograph is part of an album, and the facing page shows an image of a classical sculpture. In the Netherlands during the late 19th century, the portrait photograph was becoming a standard way to commemorate public figures. The clean-shaven image and formal suit speak to his status as an academic and public servant. The sculpture on the facing page is a clue, perhaps, that the sitter wanted to be seen as a man of classical learning. Historical images like this offer a glimpse into the visual culture of the past. They provide valuable resources for understanding social values and institutional practices. The image as a whole speaks to the status of academics in Dutch society at the time, and the norms through which they presented themselves.