Portret van een zittende man met bakkebaarden 1865 - 1887

Editor: Let's talk about Jan George Mulder’s "Portret van een zittende man met bakkebaarden," dating roughly from 1865 to 1887. It's a gelatin silver print. Looking at it, I'm immediately struck by this sense of quiet dignity, yet… also maybe a hint of sadness in the sitter's eyes. What's your take? What catches your eye in this historical portrait? Curator: You know, it's funny you say 'sadness' – I almost want to say, has he just heard a really bad joke and is politely stifling a sigh? To me, it feels more like this era where people didn't often smile for portraits. Think of the ordeal – the long exposure times, the stillness required. But beyond that, it's a real slice of life, isn’t it? The very distinct mutton chops, the serious business suit… he seems like a man of his time, captured with an impressive realism. Editor: That's a great point about the era. The photographic process itself likely influenced the subject’s expression, as they must’ve had to hold it. Curator: Precisely! Consider too the materials - the gelatin silver print itself adds to that sense of age, that window into the past. He is literally *sitting* in time. And in these older portraits, there’s such an honesty, wouldn't you agree? It lacks any pretense. He IS who he is. You either see him or you don't. What do you make of the oval framing around the image? Editor: I think the oval frame really ennobles the man; there is an emphasis on capturing an artistic interpretation, as opposed to documentation. Curator: I love that point. And also wonder how he’d feel knowing we're analyzing his 'stifled sigh' over a century later. Editor: It's wild to consider! Looking closer, I definitely notice that ‘historical photography’ tag way more, and, even, his humanity shines through. Curator: Absolutely. Perhaps he isn't that sad after all… Maybe he’s simply pondering the absurdities of time and photography, just like us.