Alexander P. Johnstone c. 1790 - 1795

Curator: Sir William Beechey painted this portrait of Alexander P. Johnstone. Something about the soft brushstrokes and the sitter’s gaze create an intimate feeling, don’t you think? Editor: Intimate, yes, but also rather melancholy. The dark background swallows almost everything, focusing our attention on his pale face and the delicate fabric at his neck. It speaks to the constraints placed upon gender expression, perhaps? Curator: That’s an interesting point. The knotted cravat, a symbol of status, is presented in a soft way, almost fragile. It mirrors a sense of both power and vulnerability. Editor: Precisely. This contrast highlights the performance of masculinity in the eighteenth century, reflecting underlying societal pressures and expectations. Curator: It is interesting to see how Beechey subtly weaves those expectations and realities together. Editor: Exactly. A dialogue between image and identity.