Portret van een jongen, zittend op een stoel 1860 - 1882

Charles De Trez, a Belgian artist, made this photographic portrait of a boy sitting on a chair sometime in the mid-19th century. During this period, photography was becoming more accessible, yet it remained a formal and staged affair, especially for portraiture. The boy, dressed in a suit, sits stiffly, his expression unreadable. The class distinctions are evident in his clothing and the ornate chair, signifiers of a certain social standing. Yet, there's a vulnerability in his youth, a tension between the rigid expectations of masculinity and the innocence of childhood. Photographs like these offer a glimpse into the past, inviting us to consider the complex interplay of identity, class, and representation in the Victorian era. While it captures a single moment, it speaks to broader societal norms and the ways in which individuals navigated their place within them. This image captures not just a boy, but a moment in time, laden with social and historical meaning.