Untitled (fourteen photographs clockwise from upper left, Hon. C. Carrington; Albert Edward (w/dog in center); Capt. Lane Fox; Lady Royston; Maj. Teesdale; Mr. Holtzman; Marchioness of Carmarthen; Lt. Col. Keppel; Hon. Mrs. E. Coke; verso, Viscount Newry seated on terrace with view of grounds in the background) 1862 - 1888

Curator: Here we have "Untitled," a photographic collage attributed to Mary Georgiana Caroline Cecil Filmer. The piece, whose dimensions are roughly 29 by 23 centimeters, features fourteen photographic portraits arranged in a clockwise fashion. Editor: It strikes me as a carefully curated display of power and privilege, doesn't it? The sepia tones lend a certain formality, a reserved atmosphere, but it's also quite intimate, like peering into a family album of the British elite. Curator: Absolutely. The arrangement, the selection of individuals, many titled—it speaks volumes about the social networks of the time. The piece offers us a glimpse into a very specific, and exclusive, segment of Victorian society. Editor: And it's precisely that exclusivity that interests me. Who is included? Who is excluded? What does it say about the artist's position within these social circles, to have access to these portraits, or to curate them in this way? It's a potent visual statement about belonging. Curator: Precisely! It's a fascinating example of how photography, even in its early stages, was used to construct and reinforce social hierarchies. A tangible record of belonging. Editor: Yes. Leaving me to think about all the invisible hands that prop up these carefully posed figures. The empire, the exploitation, and the lives made invisible to uphold this particular world. Curator: Indeed, a poignant visual record that prompts us to consider both the subjects depicted and the broader societal forces at play. Editor: Well said. It leaves me pondering the narratives that lie just beneath the surface of these seemingly straightforward portraits.