Louis Agassiz (1807-1873) 1866 - 1867

Curator: This is a miniature portrait of Louis Agassiz, the influential Swiss-American biologist and geologist. Painted by Theodore Wüst, it offers a glimpse into the 19th-century scientific community. Editor: My first impression? It feels…intimate. Almost like catching a glimpse of a very learned man in a private moment. The small scale and the soft colours definitely add to that feeling. Curator: Indeed, the size contributes to its charm. Agassiz's career was marked by significant contributions to natural history, but also by controversial views on race that are important to acknowledge. Editor: It's funny how these little portraits can hold so much – both the person's achievements and the uncomfortable truths of their time. Makes you wonder what stories our selfies will tell in a hundred years. Curator: Precisely, it reminds us that history is complex and that figures like Agassiz are not easily simplified. Editor: Ultimately, it’s a tiny window into a life, a time, and a mind, isn’t it? Curator: Yes, it is that complexity, captured within a few square inches, that makes this portrait so compelling.