Portret van een jongen in pak 1860 - 1900

Ernst Ulbrich captured this small photograph titled "Portret van een jongen in pak," or "Portrait of a Boy in a Suit," sometime in the late 19th century. During this time, photography was increasingly used to solidify identities and social positions. Here we see a young boy formally dressed, posed against an ornate backdrop. His attire and posture suggest a desire to present an image of respectability and maturity, reflecting the values of the era's middle and upper classes. The portrait offers a glimpse into the construction of masculinity during the late 1800s, a period marked by distinct expectations of gender roles. In staging this photograph, Ulbrich participates in shaping cultural norms around class and identity. Reflect on how much has changed and what has stayed the same. What do you think this boy's life was like? How does it compare to young people today?