Portret van een onbekende man met een houten blok en borstel 1865 - 1888

This is a small photograph by Giorgio Sommer, held at the Rijksmuseum, depicting an unknown man with a wooden block and brush. The subdued palette and the texture of the print create an atmosphere of quiet contemplation. Sommer plays with visual elements to challenge our understanding of portraiture. The man’s gaze is directed downwards, obscuring a direct connection with the viewer, while the tools of his trade take center stage. The composition is structured around diagonals, from the slant of his body to the placement of the block, leading the eye across the frame. The block and brush are not merely props, but become signs that invite us to question fixed social categories. Consider how this subverts traditional portraiture, where the sitter's status was paramount. Here, Sommer seems more interested in exploring the semiotics of labor and representation. This piece functions as a broader commentary on the changing values of the time, prompting us to reconsider what – and who – is deemed worthy of representation.