Portret van een man met een sigaar in de hand c. 1864 - 1890

This is a photograph, a small window into the world, created by Maurits Verveer. It depicts a man holding a cigar, an emblem of bourgeois leisure and authority. The cigar, itself, is a fascinating object. Think back to the ritualistic smoking of tobacco by indigenous peoples, a sacred act transformed into a symbol of worldly power and pleasure in the West. We see this transformation echoed in countless portraits throughout history, where the cigar, like a scepter, signifies status and control. Consider, too, the gesture of holding the cigar, a subtle yet potent assertion of self. This gesture is repeated throughout art history, a silent language of power and contemplation. It reflects our collective, subconscious understanding of the individual's role in society. Thus, the photograph becomes more than a mere likeness. It is a link in a chain, connecting us to the past, reminding us of the cyclical nature of symbols, and how they continuously evolve, carrying echoes of earlier meanings into new contexts.