Portret van een man met snor 1880 - 1905

Curator: This is "Portret van een man met snor," or "Portrait of a Man with a Moustache" by Herman Salzwedel, likely created between 1880 and 1905. It's a gelatin-silver print. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the air of self-importance emanating from this gentleman, that incredible mustache really speaks to the fashions and styles of the time! The oval format gives it a sort of old-world charm. Curator: Indeed. These photographic portraits became incredibly popular with the rise of the middle class. It was a way to record likeness, familial connections, and to participate in visual culture much like social media today. This image is also part of an album page, a presentation format quite typical in the late 19th century. Editor: I think I detect a little bit of nervousness, though. See how rigidly he’s sitting? And how he's staring off-camera? I wonder what the occasion for this portrait was and how he really felt about sitting for it. Curator: The rigidness was often due to the long exposure times needed for photography at that point. You literally had to sit still. There were head clamps to help with that, can you imagine! And in that case, there could have been something specific on his mind at this time. Perhaps he wanted to send this to a loved one? Or document his own image? Editor: Fascinating! So what looks like apprehension might just be photographic necessity. Knowing the socio-historical contexts is definitely a plus! But if it were for a lover, you'd think he'd show a little smile... Curator: Maybe, or perhaps such overt displays of affection weren't considered suitable in the rather formal visual culture of that time? I imagine Herman Salzwedel’s studio saw a lot of such quiet dramas play out in front of the camera. Editor: Absolutely. What strikes me is how ubiquitous photography was, and yet each image holds such a unique story, even a seemingly simple portrait such as this one. It really puts the human element into historical records. Curator: It does indeed. Every old photograph is an invitation to remember and reflect. A single object tells complex stories if one stops to look close enough.