Portret van de architect Pierre Bruno Bourla, ten voeten uit 1861

This is Joseph Dupont’s photographic portrait of the architect Pierre Bruno Bourla. Dupont made this small photograph sometime in the mid-19th century. In it, Bourla stands confidently, holding his hat, his hand tucked into his coat. Bourla belonged to the upper class. His identity is intricately tied to his societal status, showcased through his attire. The detailed patterns on the carpet and the ornate chair in the background speak to a life of privilege and comfort. His architecture contributed to the transformation of urban spaces, reflecting the values and aesthetics of the elite. Dupont's choice of photography, a relatively new medium at the time, speaks to broader shifts in representation and identity. The photograph captures Bourla, but it also tells us about the values of bourgeois society. It’s a society that was beginning to find new ways to see and represent itself.