Portret van een man 1883 - 1931

This portrait of a man was made by J.C. van der List, a Dutch artist who died in 1935. Cartes de visite like this one served as a kind of social currency in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially amongst the middle classes. The man's formal attire, including his dark suit and bow tie, signify his membership within this class. Such portraits helped to solidify social networks and advertise social identities, reflecting the sitter's self-image, and their ambitions. These small photographs were often kept in albums, serving as a visual record of one's acquaintances and social sphere, a precursor to our digital networks. Understanding the role of portraiture in constructing and reinforcing social hierarchies requires us to look at studio records and social archives, to really dig into the complex interplay between art, identity, and social structures. By doing so, we reveal the subtle yet powerful ways in which art both reflects and shapes the societies that produce it.