Untitled (five photographs, clockwise from upper left, Sir Stuart Hardy; Mr. (?) A.P.C.; Captain Dalzell; Col. Merrit; center, Col. Dysart(?) CB)) 1862 - 1888

Editor: This is an untitled photograph album page by Mary Georgiana Caroline Cecil Filmer, its date is unknown. It contains five portraits of men, seemingly military figures, surrounded by hand-drawn embellishments. What historical narratives do you see emerging from this compilation? Curator: I see a powerful commentary on gender and power dynamics. Filmer, a woman, appropriates the traditionally masculine space of military portraiture, literally framing these men within her own artistic vision. What does it mean to have her color and embellish them? Editor: So, it's not simply a collection of portraits, but an active reinterpretation by the artist? Almost like a reclamation of the male gaze? Curator: Precisely. She's subverting the patriarchal structures inherent in military and social hierarchies. By adding her own artistic flourishes, Filmer is questioning their authority and placing herself as the author of their image. Her lens provides insight into Victorian gender roles. Editor: That's fascinating. I'd never considered it that way. Now I see the album page as a site of negotiation, a subtle rebellion within the confines of Victorian society.