Portret van een man met bakkebaarden, leunend op een kast 1868 - 1881

Charles Reutlinger captured this photograph, *Portret van een man met bakkebaarden, leunend op een kast*, during a time when photography was evolving from a scientific tool to an art form. Reutlinger, who ran a prominent studio in Paris, catered to a clientele that was part of the burgeoning middle class, keen to emulate the aristocratic traditions of portraiture. In this image, the man's posture exudes a quiet confidence, his gaze direct yet unassuming. But what does it mean to perform masculinity for the camera in the 19th century? The trappings of wealth and status are present - the tailored suit, the meticulously groomed sideburns, the ornate cabinet. Yet, there's also an undeniable vulnerability in his expression, a hint of the anxieties and aspirations that defined middle-class identity during this period of rapid social change. Through this photograph, Reutlinger not only captured an individual likeness but also offered a glimpse into the complex negotiations of identity, class, and representation in a rapidly changing world.