Zes portretten van afgestudeerde studenten van Yale University 1895

This photographic print presents six portraits of Yale University graduates, captured by an anonymous hand. Each subject, framed in an oval, gazes with a distinctive composure. The shared attire – dark jackets, light shirts, and neatly knotted ties – speaks to a collective identity, yet subtle variations in expression and grooming hint at individual narratives. The mustache, sported by several, emerges as a curious motif. Once a symbol of virility and wisdom across cultures, from ancient rulers to 19th-century intellectuals, here it signifies belonging to a particular epoch and social class. Think of the beards and hairstyles of ancient Greek philosophers—each a carefully cultivated symbol. Similarly, these mustaches reflect a desire to project respectability, ambition, and adherence to societal norms. But these symbols are never fixed. Over time, the mustache has been charged with different meanings: rebellion, irony, or even mockery. This photograph acts as a mirror, reflecting not only the faces of these young men but also the transient nature of cultural symbols and the human desire to inscribe meaning onto our appearance.