Portret van een jonge man in kostuum met degen, aangeduid als A. Ypey Possibly 1887 - 1899

Curator: Here we have a rather intriguing gelatin-silver print, tentatively dated between 1887 and 1899, by Antonius Joannes van der Stok. It's titled "Portret van een jonge man in kostuum met degen, aangeduid als A. Ypey." My initial reaction is... theatrical! Editor: Theatrically absurd, maybe? It strikes me as a very curious performance of identity. The youth is undoubtedly costumed, and the overall feeling borders on the comical rather than heroic. Curator: I feel something deeper than pure comedy, perhaps an earnest attempt to embody a historical figure. It leans into Romanticism, doesn’t it? Think of the historical paintings, but now through the lens of photography. I wonder, was he an actor perhaps? Or simply indulging in a costume ball? Editor: Either way, it underscores a certain privilege, doesn’t it? To have the leisure, resources, and perhaps even social permission to engage in such blatant role-playing. Who gets to play with history, and who is erased or misrepresented by it? Curator: Absolutely. I keep thinking about the sword—the “degen.” Is it a symbol of power, or merely a prop? Editor: Both, I suspect. And that dichotomy is at the heart of the piece, isn’t it? The trappings of power, the illusion of grandeur… yet, something about the youth’s expression feels… vacant. Almost as if he's not quite inhabiting the role, more a mannequin dressed up in borrowed glory. Curator: Do you find yourself focusing more on his costume than the person? Editor: Definitely. The ruff, the cape, even the slightly ridiculous feathered cap—they scream artifice. This feels like a comment on class, a young man awkwardly stepping into historical shoes and not quite fitting them. Look at his patched-up hose! Curator: A deliberate choice, perhaps? A touch of playful irony amidst all the pomp? It’s difficult to tell. Still, what is undeniable is the way the piece manages to both embody and subvert the traditions of portraiture, leaving us questioning the very nature of representation. Editor: Indeed. It’s a snapshot of privilege and aspiration but viewed through the gauze of irony and artifice. An early photograph raising questions about representation, performativity, and power. A fascinating piece, no matter how you slice it.