Portret van een onbekende man, aangeduid als Berend Mulder 1885 - 1915

This is Willem Oldenkamp's portrait of a man, likely made using a photographic process sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The image has a certain symmetry, with the figure centered and his gaze directed forward. The composition is simple, focusing on the sitter's face and upper body. Note the tonal range and the delicate gradations of light and shadow. This creates a soft, almost dreamlike quality. The sepia tone contributes to a sense of timelessness. Oldenkamp's approach reflects the period's interest in capturing individual likenesses, yet there is also a clear awareness of formal aesthetics. The choice of lighting, the pose, and the overall composition suggest an attempt to elevate the photograph beyond a mere record and toward a work of art. The photograph becomes a cultural artifact through which we can understand how identity was constructed and presented in a specific time.