Portret van een onbekende man in uniform 1900 - 1914

This black and white photograph captures an unknown man in uniform, and was likely created by Fr. Tiedt in their Wismar studio. I wonder about this man and the occasion of the photograph. What was he thinking as he stood there? Did he feel self-conscious, proud, or perhaps a bit melancholic? It is a moment captured in time. The photograph itself has a sepia tone and a formal composition, with the man standing stiffly next to a chair and a decorative table, a potted plant as a background prop. But there is also a sense of vulnerability, of the man’s humanity shining through the stiff uniform and formal pose. He holds the sword with his hand resting on the chair - there is something elegant about his pose, and I like it for that. Photographs like these, and paintings too, are like whispers from the past, inviting us to contemplate the stories and experiences of those who came before us, and to reflect on our own place in the ongoing human drama.