Portret van een man met een jas en een strikje 1857 - 1862

Walter Bentley Woodbury made this portrait of a man with a coat and bow tie using the Woodburytype process. The Woodburytype, popular in the mid-19th century, allowed for mass reproduction of photographs, making portraiture more accessible to the middle class. This portrait offers a glimpse into the sartorial standards of the time, reflecting the rising importance of bourgeois identity and professional aspirations. The man’s formal attire and direct gaze suggest a desire for respectability and upward mobility. Consider the social and economic conditions in Europe at this time, where industrialization and urbanization were reshaping society. Photography studios became sites where individuals could perform and document their evolving social roles. By examining photographic journals, studio records, and social histories of the period, we can gain deeper insights into how photography shaped self-representation and reinforced social hierarchies. The meaning of this portrait resides not only in its aesthetic qualities but also in its reflection of broader cultural values and social transformations.