Self-Portrait 1910

This is a self-portrait by Felix Nadar, a photographer who lived in 19th-century France. Here we see Nadar, with his kind eyes, looking at the viewer. Note the handkerchief casually protruding from his jacket pocket. This symbol of refinement has crossed centuries. We see ancestors of this motif in paintings of medieval lords, where fine fabrics and intricate lacework denoted social standing. Now, think of those modern business leaders sporting silk scarves, peacocking for power, and the symbolism starts to become clear. The handkerchief also speaks to deeper levels. Consider its presence as a stand-in for domesticity and personal care. In times of sickness or distress, it is a source of physical and emotional comfort. How does this small object, imbued with so much meaning, shift our perception of Nadar? Such symbolism is not static. The cultural understanding and emotional resonance of the handkerchief may shift with time, yet its symbolic power endures. It reappears, each time colored by its new context, in an unending dance through history.