Portret van Gustav F. Kogel before 1889

This is C. Brasch’s portrait of Gustav F. Kogel. Its date is unknown. The photograph, like many portraits of its time, captures more than just a likeness; it encapsulates the sitter’s aspirations and social standing. Gustav Kogel's confident gaze and meticulously groomed beard speak to a desire for respectability during an era marked by shifting social norms and industrial expansion. The rise of photography democratized portraiture, yet it also codified certain ideals of masculine identity. Here we see an attempt to embody the virtues of the time: success, seriousness, and perhaps a touch of artistic flair, hinted at by his slightly unconventional hairstyle. Photographs like these served to inscribe individuals into the historical record, to assert their presence and status in a rapidly changing world. Reflect on how this image, in its quiet way, speaks to the complexities of identity and the human longing for recognition.