Twee mannen in rokkostuum met wandelstok en sigaar 1887

This print, titled "Twee mannen in rokkostuum met wandelstok en sigaar" (Two men in dress coat with walking stick and cigar), was made by Frans de Vadder in 1887. Through the drypoint medium, Vadder explores aspects of bourgeois identity during a time of social transformation in Europe. The men, adorned in formal attire, embody the conventions of the late 19th-century bourgeoisie, where appearances often signaled one’s social standing. However, these are not portraits, and it's their anonymity that strikes me. The scene invites us to consider the emotional landscape of men during this time. Were they confident in their roles? Or were they anxious about a quickly changing world? De Vadder's work contributes to a broader cultural conversation about masculinity, class, and the performance of identity. What does it mean to see these men—possibly ordinary citizens—depicted with such intentional ambiguity? It raises questions about who gets to be seen and how they are represented.