Portret van een man in kostuum met degen, aangeduid als C.E. van Marle 1872 - 1900

Editor: So, here we have a photographic portrait from between 1872 and 1900, currently residing in the Rijksmuseum. It’s titled "Portret van een man in kostuum met degen, aangeduid als C.E. van Marle"—which translates to, a portrait of a man in costume with a sword, identified as C.E. van Marle. He certainly looks the part! What I find striking is the theatrical quality of the image, the very studied pose against what seems a simple outdoor setting. How do you read this photograph? Curator: This photograph, oh, it whispers stories, doesn't it? It’s like a stage still, a character plucked from a long-forgotten play. The ornate costume—that double-headed eagle emblazoned on the tunic—speaks to a desire for grandeur, a yearning for a romanticized past. But then, the somewhat drab backdrop, the flatness of the photographic technique... it creates a beautiful tension. I see someone attempting to embody power, perhaps even project a certain historical weight, yet the camera, with its unflinching eye, captures something more… vulnerable, perhaps? What do you think about the lack of vibrant color? Editor: That tension you describe makes complete sense. I hadn't thought about it that way. And yes, the sepia tones do contribute. It almost enhances that sense of history, but at the same time, there's something very immediate about it. Like you said, almost vulnerable. I suppose colour would really make this portrait something different, and less reflective, something like historical snapshot instead. Curator: Precisely! It would solidify the present, whereas now, we hover somewhere between then and now. And who hasn’t played dress-up, felt that tug to become someone else, someone grander, even for just a fleeting moment caught on film? I wonder about Van Marle, what play was he enacting in his own life? Or perhaps, the bigger question is what play we all play? Food for thought, isn’t it? Editor: Absolutely. I’m definitely looking at this photograph in a whole new light now, pun intended. Thank you.