Portret van een jonge man met bril 1850 - 1900

Th. Weber made this photograph, “Portret van een jonge man met bril”, but we can't say exactly when. Looking at the sitter’s clothes, the style of photography and the framing, we might guess that it was made in the late 19th century. Think about how the rise of photography democratized portraiture. Before this, portraiture was reserved for the wealthy elite, but now, members of the middle class could participate in similar visual traditions. Photography studios popped up everywhere. This photograph likely comes from an album of family portraits, perhaps documenting multiple generations. Consider how the conventions of portraiture – the pose, the props, the setting, and the framing – are not neutral. They carry social and cultural meanings that reflect the values and aspirations of the sitter and the photographer. It can be fruitful to look at family albums and studio records to better understand the social world of the late 19th century.