Portret van een jongen bij een tafel met boek, inktpot en schrijfveer 1855 - 1880

Alexandre Feulard created this portrait of a boy with book, inkpot and quill, likely in the mid-19th century. Feulard, who lived through a time of significant social upheaval in France, including the rise and fall of empires and revolutions, captured this young person in a moment of poised contemplation. Consider what it meant to be a boy on the cusp of manhood in the 19th century. The trappings of learning – the book, inkpot, and quill – speak to the privileged opportunity afforded to some, while denied to many others. His serious demeanor and formal attire reflect the expectations of his gender and class. What was he expected to learn and become, and what possibilities were open to him? This image invites us to reflect on the societal structures that shape individual destinies. The photograph is a testament to a specific time and place, and it reminds us to consider the expectations, limitations, and opportunities that defined people's lives then, and continue to do so now.