Portret van een man met snor en baard 1880 - 1920

This is a portrait of a man with a mustache and beard by Adolf Wohlbach. The subject, with his prominent mustache and neatly trimmed beard, embodies the late 19th-century ideals of masculinity and status. Facial hair has always carried symbolic weight, from ancient Egyptian pharaohs with their ceremonial beards to the medieval knights whose beards signified virility and strength. The man's well-groomed appearance speaks of social standing and the importance of outward presentation, reflecting the era's emphasis on decorum and societal roles. Consider the evolution of the beard through history, and how it has been passed down through time, shifting in meaning. Now, the mustache and beard may evoke an emotional or psychological need to project authority. The cyclical return and reinterpretation of symbols are a testament to their enduring power. The mustache and beard have resurfaced and evolved, taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.