Portret van een onbekende jongeman, aangeduid als Jeanjean, te Yokohama 1873

This photographic portrait of a man, possibly named Jeanjean, was captured in Yokohama by Felice Beato. The subject's gaze is direct, his posture upright, evoking a sense of dignity and self-assuredness, a visual language that transcends geographical boundaries. It reminds us of ancient Roman portraiture, where the bust of the subject also captured a sense of authority. These motifs are found in different times and places, revealing a deep-seated human desire to represent and preserve the individual's essence. Even today, the portrait remains a potent symbol. Its endurance shows the non-linear progression of visual symbols, as they evolve and resurface, proving cultural memory is not linear, but a powerful force of images passed through time.