Zes portretten van afgestudeerde studenten van Yale University 1895

This is a photographic print showing six portraits of Yale University graduates, though the maker remains anonymous. The portraits are arranged in a grid of two rows by three columns. The men are similarly dressed, with suits and ties, in a formal style. The repetition and uniformity of the ovals and the subjects create a visual rhythm, emphasizing structure. The lack of individual expression underscores the institutional identity that Yale seeks to cultivate. Each portrait is softly rendered in monochromatic tones, typical of photographic prints from this era. The sameness invites us to consider structuralist concepts, where individual elements gain meaning from their relationship to the whole system. The symmetry in the composition, and the way in which similar forms are repeated, evokes a sense of order. The formal qualities of composition reflect a broader cultural emphasis on conformity and institutional affiliation. The artwork is not merely a document, but a study in how meaning is constructed through the interplay of repetition, structure, and subtle variations within a system.