Portret van een man met baard 1874 - 1887

This portrait of a bearded man was created by Albert Greiner, an artist active in the 19th century. Photography at this time provided a new way to capture likeness, and it also became a tool for constructing identity. Consider the cultural context: the portrait's subject, likely a member of the bourgeoisie, presents himself with a solemnity befitting the era's emphasis on respectability. His neatly trimmed beard and formal attire speak to the social expectations of masculinity and class. Yet, within these conventions, we might also seek a trace of individuality, a hint of the subject's inner self. What stories might this image conceal about gender, class, and the very human desire to be seen? How might the sitter have felt, confronted with this new technology? The photograph invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between personal identity and social representation.