Portret van een onbekende man c. 1865 - 1890

Maurits Verveer made this portrait of an unknown man sometime in the mid-19th century, employing the then-new medium of photography. In the Netherlands, the rise of photography coincided with a period of significant social and political change. The 1848 Constitution established a parliamentary system and with it, a growing middle class began to assert itself. Portraiture, once reserved for the elite, became more accessible. As a result, photographic studios flourished, and people from various social strata sought to record their likeness. This portrait, with its formal composition and the subject’s respectable attire, is a testament to the democratizing effect of the medium. Understanding the social conditions that shape artistic production requires that historians delve into archives, photographic journals, and studio records. It is there we can uncover the stories behind these images, revealing how art both reflects and shapes society.