Portret van oudere man met snor, in donkere kleding 1890 - 1898

This is a portrait of an older man with a mustache, dressed in dark clothing, made by Gerschel aîné in Strasbourg. The image encapsulates the sitter's identity and projects an outward image. The man's stern gaze is fixed directly on the viewer, demanding attention and respect. The carefully groomed mustache was a symbol of masculinity and status. He is wearing a formal suit, which was indicative of middle-class respectability. Gerschel ainé was a studio in Strasbourg that catered to a clientele eager to record their likenesses in keeping with the rising popularity of photography among the bourgeoisie. What is particularly evocative about this image is the play between the sitter's identity as constructed through the photographic medium, versus his internal, emotional life. The photograph invites us to consider what stories lie behind this man's formal pose.