Portret van Alfred Tennyson 1860 - 1867

The London Stereoscopic Company produced this portrait of Alfred Tennyson, rendered in tones that mute the figure, drawing us into a study of form and texture. The composition directs our gaze to Tennyson's face, framed by unruly hair and a substantial beard, hallmarks of his public image. The subdued palette and soft focus lend a dreamlike quality, imbuing the portrait with a sense of timelessness. Consider the semiotic weight of Tennyson's disheveled appearance. In contrast to the rigid formality expected, his unconventional presentation challenges established norms, suggesting a deliberate construction of the artist as a figure set apart. The very texture of the photograph, its materiality, reinforces this tension between the constructed image and the elusive presence of the man himself. Ultimately, this photograph is not merely a record but a carefully composed statement, one that invites us to consider the interplay between appearance, identity, and representation.