Zelfportret als de apostel Paulus c. 1865 - 1900

Curator: This photograh, titled "Self-Portrait as the Apostle Paul," was taken by Laurens Lodewijk Kleijn, sometime between 1865 and 1900. What strikes you about this piece? Editor: Initially, it feels like a haunting study in contrasts. The stark monochrome tones create an almost ethereal quality, as if we're peering into a memory or a dream. Curator: Absolutely. It's photography attempting to be painting, right? I mean, Kleijn is staging himself, costuming himself. What is that about? The Apostle Paul, a figure known for his dramatic conversion and missionary work… Editor: Kleijn’s selection of Paul is really telling. Paul's radical shift in identity—from persecutor to advocate—reflects, perhaps, Kleijn's grappling with his own identity and purpose through his art. Curator: Yes! And there's something intensely personal in assuming that persona. Do you think he identifies with the Apostle's struggle, or his transformation? Editor: Probably both, wouldn't you say? Also, let's consider the context of this photograph. The late 19th century was marked by significant social and political changes, and the rise of photography as a democratic medium. Curator: And it could mean that Kleijn, through aligning himself with a historical figure of faith, claims a similar kind of authority—intellectual or creative. Editor: Or he's interrogating power! It's fascinating how Kleijn positions himself both as the subject and the creator, playing with the gaze. Curator: A mirrored conversion on canvas perhaps! What he’s really interested in are the levels of representation here. It's deeply self-conscious, almost cheeky. Editor: Exactly, it's that layering of identities, the fusion of religious icon and self-portraiture. The textures, too, evoke age and introspection—everything underscores a dialogue between history, faith, and self. What do we really know about someone through art? Curator: In the end, maybe the point isn’t who Kleijn *was*, but who he *imagined* himself to be. Fascinating indeed, thank you!