Portret van een onbekende man in uniform 1906 - 1927

Editor: This gelatin silver print, "Portret van een onbekende man in uniform," attributed to Johannes Jacobus Dirk de Graaf between 1906 and 1927, has a certain formality. The man's rigid pose and the sword speak to a military context, yet he's "unknown." How do you interpret a portrait like this, especially considering its time? Curator: Well, let’s think about the function of studio portraiture at the turn of the 20th century. Photography was becoming increasingly accessible, democratizing portraiture. This image speaks to the institutional power of the military – the uniform is meticulously rendered, communicating status. The man is unknown *to us*, but within his community, the uniform likely signified a specific role and perhaps a sense of civic pride, perhaps even a local regiment. Editor: So it’s less about individual identity and more about representing an institution? I’m wondering about the choice of setting, with what appears to be a draped table beside him. Curator: Precisely. While we lack explicit historical data about him or his social status, this work reflects how individuals sought to publicly define themselves and the social institutions to which they wanted to signal belonging, at that specific time. Did portrait studios promote themselves in a specific ways? Is it possible they were seeking to capitalize on patriotic or military imagery to gain commissions? Editor: That’s interesting to think about - how studios might have shaped identities in a commercial sense. So it’s a negotiation, then, between the sitter, the institution represented, and the photographer aiming for public appeal. Curator: Exactly! By considering photography through this cultural lens, we can see beyond the simple depiction of a man in uniform, uncovering complex social dynamics and the performative aspects of identity. Editor: I never thought about portraits in that way – I learned a lot today. Curator: Likewise.