Portret van een man met snor 1872 - 1906

This is a small photograph titled 'Portret van een man met snor' by Max Büttinghausen, which resides in the Rijksmuseum. Small photographs like this circulated widely in the late 19th century as a form of social currency. In a society undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization, images like this helped to solidify social networks and reinforce class distinctions. The man's mustache, suit, and bow tie are all visual cues that would have been immediately recognizable to viewers at the time. In the Netherlands, as elsewhere in Europe, the rise of photography coincided with the growth of a new middle class eager to assert its status and respectability. The Rijksmuseum, founded in 1800, played a key role in shaping Dutch national identity through its collection and display of art and artifacts. To understand this photograph more fully, we might consult genealogical records, social histories of the period, and museum archives. Only then can we appreciate its significance as a cultural artifact.