Portret van een man met snor in uniform, aangeduid als Ferrier 1863 - 1866

Joseph Maes made this photograph of a moustachioed man in uniform, possibly called Ferrier, in the Netherlands, around 1864. Photography studios became widespread across Europe in the mid-19th century. Their development went hand in hand with the increasing professionalisation of the military, as armies required accurate methods of record-keeping and sought to project an image of authority. Consider the man’s meticulously groomed moustache, the precision of his uniform, and the formality of the composition. These visual cues suggest that the photograph might have been produced within an institutional setting and that it aimed to represent the sitter in a certain light. The social historian might research military records of the time to discover the sitter’s place within the Dutch army, asking how this photography studio gained access to photograph military personnel. Understanding the institutions surrounding the production of art, and the social networks of those involved, opens up pathways to a richer understanding of the image.