Studioportret van een man in kostuum met grote bakkebaarden c. 1863 - 1870

This is Albert Greiner's "Studioportret van een man in kostuum met grote bakkebaarden," whose date is unknown. The sepia tones and slightly soft focus of the photograph give the image an air of nostalgia, as if peering into a distant past. The man's formal attire is in tension with the almost rebellious statement of his pronounced sideburns. Consider how Greiner has structured the composition. The subject is placed centrally, filling the frame, which creates a sense of immediacy. The lack of a distinct background turns our attention to the man's face and costume. The contrast between the dark suit and the light shirt draws our eye to his face, especially the striking juxtaposition of the dark, angular sideburns against the clean-shaven jawline. The photograph can be viewed through the lens of semiotics. The suit, for instance, could be a signifier of social status and respectability. The sideburns challenge fixed meanings, perhaps indicating a tension between convention and individuality, or even a subtle act of defiance against social norms.