Untitled (half length portrait of man with beard facing right) 1868 - 1881

Editor: This is an untitled portrait by Mathew Brady, a small photograph. It feels very formal. What can you tell me about this image? Curator: The formality speaks volumes. Brady, famous for documenting the Civil War, also captured these individual portraits. We should consider the power dynamics inherent in portraiture at that time. Who had access? What narratives were being constructed and reinforced? Editor: So, it’s about more than just recording someone’s likeness? Curator: Absolutely. It's about controlling representation. Who gets remembered and how? These images can tell us about gender, class, and the very notion of American identity in the 19th century. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Thanks! Curator: It’s a privilege to re-examine these works with a critical eye.