Untitled (unidentified infant seated) 1866 - 1899

Editor: This is an untitled photograph of an infant, taken by Perry and Varney. It's interesting how the textures of the chair and the baby's dress contrast. What strikes you about the composition of this piece? Curator: The sepia toning, and the composition's reliance on rectangular forms, create a sense of structured formality. The sharp focus on the infant's face, and the relatively soft focus on the patterned backdrop, creates an interesting tension. Does the interplay of focus and blur strike you in any way? Editor: It does now! It makes the baby pop even more. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: Indeed. Photography's capacity to capture detail, while simultaneously shaping it through focus and tone, offers unique insights.