Portret van een onbekende man met baard 1877 - 1897

This is a portrait of an unknown, bearded man by Lodewijk Hendrikus Serré, likely made in the late 19th century. It's a carte-de-visite, a small photograph mounted on card stock. Serré was active during a time when photography was becoming more accessible, yet portraiture remained a privilege, and signifier of status. The man's identity is lost to us, yet his class is evident in the tailored coat. The photograph embodies the era's emphasis on decorum and respectability. The sitter's gaze and posture invite us to consider how individuals sought to represent themselves in this new visual medium. What stories might this image conceal? Serré's photograph is a meditation on visibility, identity, and the quiet narratives embedded in the photographic image.