Portret van een jonge man in kostuum met degen, aangeduid als H.S.J. Hijmans 1860 - 1905

This portrait of a young man in costume with a rapier, identified as H.S.J. Hijmans, was created by Jan Goedeljee. The sepia tones and the oval frame lend it a nostalgic air, yet the subject's direct gaze brings us sharply to the present. Goedeljee’s composition here relies on the interplay between texture and form. The ruffled collar, the plush fabric of the doublet, and the sheen of the sword all contribute to a rich surface that contrasts with the flat, neutral background. The costume, reminiscent of the Dutch Golden Age, invites us to consider questions of identity and representation. Is this a mere masquerade, or does it reflect a deeper connection to history and cultural memory? The sword, a phallic symbol of power, destabilizes conventional notions of identity. As we consider the semiotic structure embedded in the image, we can observe how Goedeljee engages with broader artistic and philosophical concerns. This photograph becomes not just a record but a tableau, a stage upon which identity is performed and history is re-imagined.