Portret van een onbekende jongeman in uniform 1873 - 1896

Editor: So, here we have a photographic print titled "Portret van een onbekende jongeman in uniform", placing it somewhere between 1873 and 1896. The studio stamp tells us the photographer was Jacobus Marinus Wilhelmus de Louw. There’s something so formal and almost melancholic about this young man…almost like he's waiting for something, or someone. What strikes you most about this portrait? Curator: You know, there's a beautiful stillness to it, isn't there? This isn't just a photograph; it’s a performance frozen in time. The young man in uniform, standing stiffly with his sabre – what is he projecting? The slight smirk almost suggests pride, yes, but perhaps laced with just a tiny bit of apprehension, like a young actor unsure of their lines. Does he fully believe in the role he is playing? Editor: That’s fascinating – the idea of "playing" a soldier. It hadn't occurred to me, but you’re right, there is something performative about the pose. What do you think about the sabre in the image, resting awkwardly between the figure's arm and hands? Curator: Well, it could point to a new world order, as this object suggests the power of violence and how it is embedded in such rigid social structures! His youth versus the readiness for conflict create that friction you picked up on. Perhaps he feels he is being asked to play a game he may not know. Editor: I see what you mean. So much conveyed in a single, still moment. It is powerful! Curator: Yes, that play of presence is almost like witnessing the dawn of a nation, and this boy is standing on its porch! That’s what makes the study of these images so rewarding, as you can often see an inkling of something profound, perhaps a societal question. Editor: I definitely learned a lot just now. Curator: And hopefully made new connections to the work and how it relates to what comes next.