Portret van een staande man in wandelkostuum 1860 - 1880

Editor: We’re looking at "Portret van een staande man in wandelkostuum," or Portrait of a Standing Man in Walking Costume, a gelatin silver print from somewhere between 1860 and 1880, by Karl Boos. He looks quite the character, doesn't he? So formal and stern! What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: He does indeed. What a fantastic mustache. It almost steals the show! But looking beyond the splendid facial hair, I’m struck by how *real* this feels, despite its age. There's a directness in his gaze, wouldn't you say? Almost as if he's sizing us up. What do you make of his pose? Leaning casually against that elaborately decorated cabinet, cane in hand... Editor: It feels deliberate, like he's trying to project a certain image. Sophisticated, maybe? Is that what people were going for in photography back then? Curator: Oh, absolutely! Remember, photography was still quite new. These portraits were often a status symbol. This wasn't a quick snapshot, but a carefully constructed representation of the sitter. Think about the walking costume – he's presenting himself as a man of leisure, someone who takes walks, and appreciates the finer things. Though, with that hat, perhaps a man courting the absurd, just a little. Don’t you think? Editor: Maybe. It is quite the hat! All that seriousness offset by... feathers? Curator: Exactly! It adds a layer of complexity, a hint of individuality peeking through. It makes you wonder what stories *he* could tell. Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way, seeing past the surface image. I was so focused on the sternness. Curator: And isn’t that the magic of a good portrait? It invites us to look closer, to imagine the life behind the face. And sometimes, a ridiculous hat helps, too. Editor: Absolutely! Thanks for showing me that it’s not just about capturing a likeness, but also crafting a narrative, with just a little humor.