Portret van een staande man met wandelstok 1860 - 1900

This is a photographic portrait by Rocksch & Matthaey, depicting a standing man with a walking stick. Note the walking stick, a symbol deeply rooted in history, signifying authority and status, akin to a scepter. From the staffs of ancient rulers to the crooks of biblical shepherds, this seemingly simple object carries a profound weight. Even today, we see echoes of it in the ceremonial maces of institutions, a subconscious link to ancestral power. The hat sitting to his side also acts as a marker of status, contrasting with the medieval fool’s cap or the revolutionary's beret. It underscores the ever-shifting nature of symbols. Observe how his posture exudes a carefully cultivated image of self-assurance. These elements coalesce to form an emotional tableau, hinting at the complex performance of identity across time. They linger in our collective memory.