Portret van een onbekende man in klederdracht, mogelijk Grieks of Ottomaans 1858 - 1865

This small photograph shows an unknown man in traditional dress and was made by Sergei Lvovich Levitsky in the 19th century. It invites us to consider the cultural and political contexts that shaped photographic portraiture at the time. Levitsky was a pioneering photographer in Russia, and his studio catered to the elite. Note how the sitter is carefully posed on what appears to be a velvet chaise lounge. The sitter is also wearing what appears to be traditional Ottoman or Greek clothing. The work invites questions about cultural identity and representation within the Russian Empire. Russia was expanding its influence in the Caucasus and the Balkans at this time. The photograph may reflect Russia's fascination with and its domination over these regions. To better understand this image, archival research into Levitsky’s clientele and the history of Russian Orientalism would be helpful. By situating art within its historical context, we reveal the complex social dynamics embedded within it.