Portret van een militair c. 1860 - 1884

This is a photograph titled 'Portret van een militair', made by Kannemans & Zoon. The photograph presents a muted palette, dominated by sepia tones. The figure of the military man is centrally positioned, his dark uniform a stark contrast to the faded background. The composition is simple: the subject gazes directly forward, creating a symmetrical balance. The light softly illuminates his face, emphasizing his mustache and the determined set of his eyes. The formal rigidity of the portrait speaks to the codes of representation in military portraiture. It’s a study in contrasts—light and dark, soft focus against sharp detail—that invites us to consider how identity is both constructed and revealed through photographic means. This image, though seemingly straightforward, destabilizes easy interpretations, prompting questions about representation, authority, and the gaze.