Portret van een man met snor

François Hermans created this small photographic print called "Portrait of a Man with a Moustache," sometime in the late 19th century. This image is likely what's called a carte-de-visite, a small photograph mounted on card stock that became incredibly popular in the mid-19th century. They were traded among friends and family and collected in albums, much like the image you see here. The rise of this format was linked to the rise of photography studios, which made portraiture accessible to a wider public than ever before. The carte-de-visite democratized image-making, previously only available to the wealthy through painting. It's a fascinating shift in how we capture and share our identities. Understanding this image requires delving into the history of photography, portraiture, and social customs of the 19th century. We can also learn more about photographic studios. The meaning of this portrait is embedded in the social and institutional context of its time.