Portret van Philippe Ricord 1880

This is Etienne Carjat’s portrait of Philippe Ricord, captured through photography in the 19th century and now held at the Rijksmuseum. Carjat was a man of many talents, including photography, during a time when photography was still a relatively new medium. His portraits often captured the likenesses of prominent figures. Philippe Ricord was a French venereologist known for his work on sexually transmitted diseases during a period of significant social and medical change. The portrait provides insight into the sitter's social standing and profession during the 1800's. Through portraiture we see a frozen moment in time that reflects the subject’s identity and the social and cultural values of the period. This portrait offers a glimpse into the life and identity of a medical professional who studied diseases that were often stigmatized, and contributes to a broader historical understanding of medicine, identity, and representation in 19th-century France.