Portret van Raphael Duflos c. 1875 - 1885

Editor: So this is *Portret van Raphael Duflos,* from roughly 1875 to 1885, by Wilhelm Benque. It's a photographic print featured in what looks like an old journal or magazine spread. The image itself has a kind of timeless quality; it’s obviously from another era, but something about the gaze and the pose feels surprisingly contemporary. What jumps out at you when you look at this portrait? Curator: Immediately, the performative aspect grabs my attention. It’s not just a portrait, but a carefully constructed image intended for public consumption. How does Duflos want to be remembered? Notice the historical costume, referencing perhaps a past era of glory, but placed within a contemporary magazine. It's fascinating, isn't it, this dialogue between past and present, identity and representation? Editor: It's almost theatrical, right? Like he's playing a role. Why use a costume? Curator: Precisely! The costume evokes very specific cultural memories. What does dressing up achieve psychologically? He is carefully crafting an identity through symbolic association. The placement in "Paris-Artiste" suggests a desire for recognition, not just as an individual, but as part of a cultural lineage. Does the typeface reinforce this connection? What values are promoted with this kind of journal? Editor: I guess he wants to connect himself to something grander, more enduring. I didn't really think about it in that way. It’s interesting how a portrait can be about so much more than just the person's face. Curator: Exactly! We see how historical consciousness is formed by symbolic markers. Considering our own relationship to photography today and celebrity representation, this opens a whole new perspective! Editor: It makes you think about what we choose to show the world, and what that says about who we want to be. Curator: Yes, the curated self, presented for posterity. An enduring cultural practice, manifested anew.