Portret van een onbekende man 1873 - 1895

This portrait of an unknown man was made by Nadar, the pseudonym of Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, a French photographer, in the 19th century. What does this small photograph tell us about French society at that time? Well, photography had only recently been invented, and portrait studios were springing up all over Paris to cater for a new demand. Nadar was one of the most successful, and he would later use his wealth to pursue other passions, such as ballooning. But it's not just Nadar's story that interests me. The image of this unknown man, with his formal suit and tie, gives us a glimpse into the aspirations of the middle classes in France at the time. They were eager to emulate the aristocracy and show off their success through symbols of upward mobility. How do we know? We can learn about it by looking at fashion, social commentary, and the history of photography. In understanding the institutional and social context in which art is produced, we begin to better understand the art itself.