Portret van een jongen zittend achter een zoötroop before 1908

This photograph, a reproduction in a book, by R. Brinkley & Son, captures a young boy seated at a table, absorbed by a zoetrope. The image resonates with themes of childhood, class, and the burgeoning fascination with technology. Notice how the child, dressed in a sailor suit, a typical outfit for upper-class children, engages with this early form of animation. The zoetrope, a pre-cinema device, embodies the Victorian era’s fascination with science. Yet, this is more than a portrait of innocence. It evokes questions about how identities are shaped by these technological interactions. Photography, a relatively new medium at the time, democratized portraiture. While traditionally reserved for the wealthy, the carte-de-visite allowed a broader segment of society to possess images of themselves and their loved ones. Ultimately, this photograph encapsulates a moment where technology, identity, and class intersect, inviting us to consider the social and personal implications of early image-making.