Portret van een man in kostuum met degen, aangeduid als J. Harmens Possibly 1887 - 1899

Antonius Joannes van der Stok made this small photograph, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century, showing a man identified as J. Harmens in costume with a sword. What might appear at first as a straightforward portrait opens onto broader questions about Dutch cultural identity. The sitter is dressed in garb recalling the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, a period of immense economic and artistic flourishing. But why? The photograph was made at a time when the Netherlands, like other European nations, was engaged in constructing a sense of national heritage. Historical societies and public museums encouraged an interest in the past, fostering a collective memory through displays of period clothing and theatrical reenactments. This image, then, is not just a portrait, but a sign of the times. Historians can research period clothing, theater productions, and museum collections to better understand the social context of this photograph. Only then can we truly grasp its meaning as a reflection of cultural values.