Portret van een jonge man in kostuum, aangeduid als G.J. Verburgt Possibly 1887 - 1899

This small photograph by Antonius Joannes van der Stok features a young man in costume, its sepia tones lending it an antique aura. The oval frame enhances the formal, staged quality of the portrait, reminiscent of classical portraiture. The figure is central, his elaborate attire drawing the eye. Note how the striped leggings and puffed sleeves create a play of light and shadow, adding depth to the two-dimensional image. The backdrop, though blurred, hints at a constructed, theatrical space, underlining the artificiality inherent in portraiture. The framing and composition of the photograph prompt us to consider the semiotics of costume and identity. It destabilizes clear-cut notions of identity, suggesting that dress is not merely a covering but a signifier, a performance. How does it reflect broader questions about representation, and the constructed nature of identity?