Portret van een onbekende jongen gekleed in een pak voor de eerste heilige communie c. 1905 - 1910

Pieter Jan Nieuwstad made this portrait of a boy dressed for his first holy communion, likely in the Netherlands, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The image is a window into the social and cultural significance of religious milestones in that era. Notice the formality of the boy's attire: the dark suit, the elaborate white bow, and the prayer book he holds. These details speak to the importance placed on religious rituals within the community. Nieuwstad's work also hints at the growing role of photography in shaping social memory. As photography became more accessible, portraits like this served to document and commemorate important life events, reinforcing social norms and familial bonds. To fully understand this image, we can turn to local archives, church records, and studies of Dutch social history to reveal the deeper meanings embedded within it. The history of art reminds us that images are never neutral; they reflect the values and beliefs of their time.