Portret van een zittende man met sik Possibly 1905

This photographic portrait of a seated man with a goatee was made by Ferdinand Buyle, sometime in the early 20th century. Look how the man holds a paper in his hands. I wonder what he is thinking. Does he realize that someone is taking a photo of him? Is he trying to pose as someone important? I guess he is. See the way he’s looking straight ahead, his eyes fixed on a point just beyond the camera. His serious face makes him seem like he could be a politician or some kind of manager. I'm trying to imagine Buyle behind the camera, looking through the lens. I think he tried to communicate a feeling of seriousness and importance through this image. Buyle’s work reminds me of other portrait photographers of the time, who were also interested in capturing the likeness and personality of their subjects. But what if they were more interested in their idea of the person they saw behind the lens? That would be interesting, don't you think? We are always in conversation and exchange of ideas, trying to capture something that never stays still.