Portret van een onbekende man met snor 1880 - 1910

Charles de Latin captured this cabinet card portrait of an unknown, mustachioed man in Antwerp. Without a date, it's hard to pinpoint exactly when it was made, but the format suggests it emerged during the late 19th century when photography was rapidly evolving. The sitter's gaze is direct but reserved; he presents himself in a bourgeois fashion, a suit, tie, and carefully groomed mustache, indicating a certain social status and aspirations of the era. What stories might be hidden behind this man's image? This is where photography becomes a tool of representation, reflecting the sitter's self-perception, and the photographer’s interpretation of his subject. Consider how portraits like this one served as a way to document and construct identity. The man's effort to appear respectable might challenge or affirm societal expectations, reflecting both his aspirations and the cultural values of his time.