Portret van Lewis Boss c. 1882

This portrait of Lewis Boss is an inserted photograph within the pages of a book, its maker is unknown. The tradition of portraiture is interesting, and its interplay between anonymity and celebrity. Here is an image of a man, identified as Lewis Boss, yet made by someone unknown. Consider, for a moment, the relationship between knowledge and representation, between visibility and power. In earlier centuries, portraiture was largely reserved for the wealthy and powerful, but as the nineteenth century progressed, photographic technologies democratized the image, allowing for a broader range of people to be seen and remembered. In doing so, photography also began to alter the historical record. While the image shows what appears to be a distinguished man of science, the lack of information of the photographer reminds us of the countless individuals whose labor and creativity often go unrecognized in broader historical narratives. It prompts us to reflect on how societal structures can dictate who is remembered and who is forgotten.