Portret van een man in een jas met boek in de hand c. 1870 - 1891

Lambertus Martinus Delboy captured this portrait of a man holding a book sometime in the late 19th century. This photograph offers a glimpse into the identity constructions of the time. The subject is dressed in a dark jacket and light trousers, seated formally with a book in hand, elements that suggest education and status. His posture and attire reflect the conventions of bourgeois respectability. Yet, photography itself was becoming more accessible, blurring class lines in representation. Consider the gaze of the sitter. What does it mean to be captured and presented in this way? Does it reflect a desire for upward mobility, or does it reinforce existing social hierarchies? As we observe this man, let’s think about the narratives we create about ourselves and others through images. How do these stories shape our understanding of identity and belonging?