Portret van een zittende man met snor en baard c. 1880

Léonard Hubert Zeyen created this portrait of a seated man with a mustache and beard, using an early photographic process. Looking at this portrait through a contemporary lens, we see the sitter’s stern gaze. He seems to look towards a future that he could perhaps not yet imagine. During Zeyen’s time, photography was becoming increasingly accessible, which democratized portraiture, previously only available to the wealthy elite. This portrait offers a glimpse into the visual culture of the late 19th century. It shows a specific class and gender expression, and in its own way, reflects and shapes societal norms around masculinity and representation. The act of preserving one's image became a powerful tool for constructing and maintaining identity. What did it mean to be a man in this time? What were the expectations, and how did individuals navigate them?