Portret van een man met snor en baard 1880 - 1920

Editor: So, this is an interesting old photograph, simply titled "Portret van een man met snor en baard"—Portrait of a man with a mustache and beard. Dating somewhere between 1880 and 1920. It’s stark, yet something about his gaze feels… surprisingly modern. What jumps out at you when you look at it? Curator: Oh, I love these! You know, these early photographs have such a directness. It’s almost as if they're staring into our souls across time. I am moved by how seemingly plain and honest this medium began; what some would later do with the concept… Man Ray might chuckle in admiration from the grave, or not, depending on the day. It could use a provocative title to bring out more soul, I’d imagine that to really know this gentleman it’d be better to engage the other senses as well as his memory. I want to see him walk, move. The lack of color forces you to fill in so much. Makes one want to dream this man awake, doesn’t it? Editor: Definitely! It’s funny, I was just thinking about that directness. Did everyone just pose so stiffly back then, or is there something else going on? Curator: Oh, I imagine that part of it was the technology, exposure times were longer, you know. But also, perhaps they had a different relationship with image-making than we do now. A photo was serious business! Think of it as painting with light, a sort of photographic alchemy that sought to capture one's likeness, one's essence. I think that in its quest it did find an ‘honesty’, for better or worse. I want to get him on the couch. And hear him tell stories! Editor: That's such a beautiful way to look at it. Thanks for your vision! Curator: Thanks to you too, I feel better equipped to see this fellow's humanity!