Portret van een staande man in historisch kostuum met verentooi en hellebaard 1865 - 1883

This striking portrait was made by Peter Moosbrugger, sometime between his birth in 1831 and death in 1883. It's a photographic print, a process that involves both the mechanical precision of the camera and the skilled hand of the darkroom technician. The choice of clothing is particularly interesting here. Note the elaborate feather headdress, the decorated doublet, the halberd. The sitter is clearly costumed. But as what? And why? The photograph, especially in this era, was not just a means of documentation, but also a method of social presentation. The sitter is presenting himself in a way that is evocative and romantic. He wants to create a strong impression through the careful selection of garments, props, and poses. The finished portrait demonstrates how photography, though ostensibly a product of industrial modernity, also provides a platform for self-conscious artistry, blurring boundaries between historical record and the theater of self-creation.