Portrait of Two Men c. 1850

This reflective portrait of two men, made by Higgins in the 19th century, shows the sitters in formal attire, their poised demeanor a window into the era's social customs. The duplication of the figures, mirrored along a horizontal axis, introduces a layer of symbolic depth. Mirrors have long been associated with introspection, truth, and even vanity, echoing in mythologies where mirrored images reveal hidden realities. Think of Narcissus, captivated by his reflection, an ancient warning against self-obsession. The mirroring in this photograph might subtly hint at a dual nature, a public persona reflected against a private self, both captured and examined. It’s a visual echo resonating through history, inviting us to consider how we present ourselves to the world, and to what extent that image is merely a reflection of deeper, often unseen, aspects of our being.