Portret van een jongen, staand bij een stoel 1865 - 1903

This portrait of a boy standing by a chair was created by De Lavieter & Co. The photograph, with its muted sepia tones, captures a carefully constructed arrangement. The subject, a young boy, is positioned beside an ornate chair, his posture suggesting a studied elegance. Note how the composition adheres to a classic format. The soft, diffused light emphasizes the textures of his suit and the chair's fabric. The backdrop is a neutral, undefined space, drawing our attention to the figures in the foreground. There's a tension created by the boy's relaxed pose versus the formality implied by his attire and the setting. The very act of posing for a photograph—a relatively new medium at the time—speaks to evolving ideas about representation and identity. The photograph not only captures an image but also constructs a narrative, inviting us to consider the social codes and power dynamics at play. Consider how the elements within this photograph work to produce and reproduce an image of social class through a formal lens.