Portret van Per Janzon 1862 - 1875

This is a portrait of Per Janzon by Gösta Florman, made with an unknown photographic process. Florman, a Swedish photographer, captured this image during a time of evolving social norms and burgeoning photographic techniques. Looking at Janzon, we see a man embodying the emerging bourgeois identity of the 19th century. The monocle, the suit, the carefully knotted tie, all speak to a performance of class and respectability. In the context of a rapidly industrializing society, such markers of status were crucial. Yet, there's a certain vulnerability in his gaze, perhaps hinting at the anxieties of a changing world. The photograph itself, with its sepia tones and formal composition, speaks to the era's fascination with capturing and preserving images of self. It invites us to reflect on how identity is both constructed and perceived, and the emotional weight carried within these historical representations. It is a powerful insight into the cultural values of the past and the personal stories they tell.