Portret van een onbekende man 1902

This is a photograph, "Portret van een onbekende man", by Alfred Kirstein, made around the turn of the 20th century. The man is pictured formally dressed in a suit, tie, and boater hat, but who was he? The photograph comes from a time of rapid social change in Germany, marked by industrialization and urbanization. As photography became more accessible, it was used to capture the likenesses of ordinary people, not just the elite. The hat and clothing of the sitter indicate that he belongs to the bourgeoisie. Kirstein, based in Berlin, was part of a growing professional class of photographers. His studio would have served as a social space where people could present themselves in a carefully constructed manner. The image becomes a document of class identity and social aspiration. To understand this photograph more fully, we can look to sources like period journals, studio records, and social histories of photography. By analyzing these elements, we can understand how the image contributes to our understanding of the social fabric of its time.