Portret van een onbekende jongeman met stok en hoed 1874 - 1929

This is a photographic portrait of an unknown young man with a cane and hat by Arnoldus Cornelius Verhees. It’s printed on what looks like a carte de visite. The sepia tones give the image a warm, historical feel. I find myself drawn to the texture and the way the light catches on the surface, especially on the ornate chair. It’s so different from today’s super-slick, digital images. You can almost feel the grain of the photograph. Look at the way the young man's jacket drapes. The imperfections, like the slight blurring around the edges, give it an intimate, human quality. This reminds me a bit of some of the portraits by Nadar. I wonder if Verhees knew his work? Either way, it speaks to how art evolves, each artist building on what came before, adding their own voice to the conversation. It's a lovely, understated piece that invites you to linger.