George Pierce Baker (1866-1935) 1886 - 1887

Curator: Here we have a portrait of George Pierce Baker by Pach Brothers. The mount measures about 16 by 10 centimeters. Editor: There's a certain seriousness to this image; he looks every bit the academic, doesn't he? Curator: Certainly. Note the material processes involved: the photographic print itself, likely albumen or gelatin silver, and the mount upon which it is affixed. The very act of creating and commissioning such a portrait speaks to Baker's status and the accessibility of photography at the time. Editor: I see the glasses as symbolic—a mark of intellect, perhaps, or a visual cue to his role as a man of letters. And the formality of his attire speaks to a specific code of conduct. Curator: Good point, but consider how the studio's location, 841 Broadway, N.Y., reflects the commercialization of portraiture. It's about production, consumption, and the market for images. Editor: I suppose both of our perspectives serve to enrich the understanding of this portrait. Curator: Precisely, by highlighting the different layers of meaning embedded within.