Portret van een onbekende man, mogelijk Dorzée 1897

This is Georges Montenez’s undated portrait of an unknown man, possibly Dorzée. Executed as an etching, the work presents us with the formal attire of its subject, a bourgeois gentleman adorned with medals. Montenez, living through both World Wars, seems to capture something of the early 20th century's unease, a sentiment echoed by the subject’s somber expression. Who was this man? What stories of class and power are stitched into the seams of his suit? The image seems to ask. While the man’s identity remains a mystery, the trappings of his social status are on full display. Consider how portraiture has traditionally functioned to immortalize and elevate its subjects, often members of the elite. But here, the man's slightly weathered face and guarded gaze offer a glimpse into the emotional landscape of a changing world, one where the certainties of class and status were beginning to be questioned. This portrait makes us wonder about the untold narratives of those who lived through times of immense upheaval.