Portret van een man met snor 1899 - 1920

This is a portrait of a man with a mustache, created by Cornelius Antonius Gerardus Leijenaar sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Leijenaar, born in 1874, lived during a time when photography was becoming increasingly accessible, yet portraiture remained a significant marker of social status and identity. Here, the man's neatly groomed mustache, tailored suit, and poised demeanor reflect the values and expectations of bourgeois masculinity of the era. The photograph serves as a carefully constructed representation of self, intended to convey respectability, and perhaps, a certain level of social and economic standing. Consider the emotional weight of such an image, intended not just for personal memory, but also as a statement to the world. What narratives of identity and aspiration are embedded in this carefully crafted portrait? How does it speak to broader societal expectations of masculinity?