Portret van een jonge man in kostuum, aangeduid als J.S. Posthuma 1880 - 1883

This is Jan Goedeljee’s portrait of a young man named J.S. Posthuma, an early photograph with dimensions of only 83 by 52 millimeters. The image is presented in a vertical oval format that immediately directs our gaze to the figure. Note the use of sepia tones that give the photograph a timeless quality. The costume creates a striking visual experience with its elaborate ruff, puffed sleeves and linear detailing. This combination of textures and patterns invites a semiotic reading: the costume is a signifier. The photograph is not merely a record, but a construction of identity and representation. Consider the structuralist approach. The photograph operates within a system of signs. The subject is framed by a theatrical backdrop of a chair and a column, adding layers of artifice. What does this portrait tell us about the sitter, and what does it conceal? Goedeljee's photograph is not just a portrait, it's a carefully constructed performance.