Portret van Salomon Leonardus Verveer 1845

This is Louis Ghémar's portrait of Salomon Leonardus Verveer. Ghémar, a Belgian photographer and lithographer, created this piece using lithography, a printing process that allows for detailed and expressive marks. The portrait gives us a glimpse into the world of 19th-century European society. Verveer, with his tailored suit and carefully groomed mustache, embodies the image of bourgeois respectability. But what does it mean to capture someone's likeness and project it onto a public space? Ghémar worked at a time when photography and lithography were becoming increasingly accessible, transforming not only the art world but also the way people perceived themselves and others. This portrait offers a narrative of identity, shaped by societal expectations and evolving means of representation.