Portret van een (vermoedelijk) Franse militair, staand in een driekwartbroek met pet c. 1870 - 1900

This is a portrait of a man in military dress, possibly French, created by Peronet using photographic methods. The image encapsulates the social and political climate of its time through visual codes. His uniform tells us this is a military man, but what rank, what unit, and what was his social class? The column to his left is an odd symbol of wealth and status. In what ways is this photograph intended as a display of power? The image reflects institutional histories of art and photography. Photographic portraits democratized image making, and made it possible for more people to have their image recorded, but here we might ask who was excluded from this new technology? What are the social conditions that shape artistic production here? To fully understand this portrait, further historical research into military uniforms of the period, alongside the biographies of figures named ‘Peronet’ would be valuable. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context.