Reproductie naar een foto van Willem Witsen c. 1860 - 1915

Curator: This gelatin-silver print, simply titled "Reproductie naar een foto van Willem Witsen," made sometime between 1860 and 1915, presents us with a direct gaze into the past. The image, residing here at the Rijksmuseum, allows us to consider the identity and representation of men in late 19th and early 20th-century photography. Editor: Oh, he looks a bit melancholy, doesn’t he? Kind of like he's perpetually waiting for a good cup of coffee and a reason to smile. There’s a weariness in his eyes that just grabs you. Curator: That weariness, as you call it, speaks volumes about the changing social and artistic landscape during this period. Witsen, of course, came from a wealthy family and actively participated in artistic circles, yet his portrait, in its realism, invites considerations about the individual experience amidst broader social changes. How might issues of class, privilege, and artistic identity intertwine here? Editor: It’s interesting you say that. Because honestly, the first thing I thought of was how surprisingly "now" he looks. Like, you could easily see this photo on an up-and-coming musician's Instagram. He’s both a product of his time, certainly, with that classic attire, but also completely outside of it in a funny way. Curator: Precisely. And that duality gets even more complex when you realize that this work is not by Willem Witsen, but reproduces a photo *of* him. Think of the layered perspectives we’re dealing with. Whose gaze are we really meeting? And to what end? Editor: Right. It’s a portrait, but also a mirror, reflecting ideas about photography, identity... and, well, reproduction. It leaves you wondering, who gets to represent whom, and how are those stories being shaped over time. This image has got me thinking… Thanks for sharing! Curator: My pleasure! It's by engaging with these kinds of complex layers in historical works that we can tease apart their meaning today.