Portret van een onbekende man, zittend aan tafel 1898 - 1912

Corinne Ingelse, working in Utrecht, made this carte-de-visite photograph of an unknown man. The carte-de-visite became extremely popular from the 1860s onward as photography became more accessible to the public. This small portrait reflects the social codes and aspirations of its time. The sitter's formal attire, carefully groomed moustache, and composed posture speak to the values of respectability, decorum, and self-presentation that were so important to middle-class society. Ingelse's studio, identified by the address printed on the card, would have been a site of social exchange, where individuals and families could have their portraits taken to project a desired image of themselves. We could research census records and business directories to find out more about the social and economic context of Ingelse's photography studio. By studying such portraits, we can gain insight into the social and cultural values of the time and understand the ways in which individuals sought to represent themselves within those frameworks.