Portret van een jongen, staand met hoed bij een fauteuil 1875 - 1890

Joseph Swaab captured this small portrait of a young boy, with an unknown date. The photograph, mounted on card, presents a formal studio portrait, typical of the era. The image creates meaning through its visual codes; the boy's attire, a dark suit and bow tie, signifies middle-class status. The setting, with a patterned backdrop and ornate armchair, speaks to the conventions of bourgeois portraiture. Made during a time when photography was becoming increasingly accessible, such portraits served as markers of social identity and family history. This image likely reflects the sitter's desire to project a respectable image to the world. To truly understand this photograph, one would need to delve into the social history of photography, exploring archives, studio records, and family collections. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.