Portret van een man met snor en baard 1878 - 1885

This is a portrait of a man with a mustache and beard by Eugene Guérin. Although undated, the photographic style, framing, and the sitter's clothing suggest it was made in the late 19th century. Portraits such as this, whether painted or photographed, were the reserve of the middle and upper classes. What does it mean to have your image captured? This gentleman’s neatly groomed facial hair, suit, and bow tie, indicate his wealth and social standing. He looks like he is ready to go to the opera. We might think about the institutions that supported the creation of artworks such as this. Photographic studios, like art galleries, catered to an elite clientele. We might also consider other factors such as how the sitter was able to take time away from his job to sit for a portrait, an ability not everyone had at the time. To better understand works like these, we need to look at economic records, historical accounts, and archives that describe the context in which the art was made. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.