Portret van Dr. Léon Hendrix before 1909

This vintage portrait of Dr. Léon Hendrix, probably made with early photographic techniques, gives off this very serious and self-assured vibe. You can almost smell the dark room. I can imagine the photographer carefully setting up the shot, getting the light just right. Hendrix must have been trying to project an image of respectability. I wonder what the photo would have been like if he had smiled. Would that have made him look less serious or professional? I wonder if he wanted to project more of a kind face? What was the doctor really like? It's interesting how a single captured moment can convey so much about a person, or at least what they wanted others to think about them. I think that's what every portrait tries to do. Looking at the photo, I’m reminded of the portraits made by Nadar. In that moment of art we are able to transcend time and connect with the past in a meaningful way.