Portret van een zittende man met boek 1850 - 1867

Johannes Peter Metzger created this salt print of a seated man with a book sometime in the mid-19th century. The man is pictured formally dressed, holding a book, with a serene expression on his face. In the 19th century, advancements in photographic technology made portraiture more accessible to the middle class. This image reflects the growing cultural value placed on literacy, learning, and intellectualism, particularly among the rising middle classes. The sitter's attire and pose signify respectability and social standing. The print itself, and the man portrayed, exist within a specific institutional context. The emergence of photography as an art form was intertwined with developing technologies and changing social expectations. By studying images like this alongside other historical documents, we can gain insights into the cultural values and social structures of the time.