Cator Family Album 1866 - 1877

The "Cator Family Album," made in the 19th century by Maria Harriet Elizabeth Cator, is a watercolor collage of photographic portraits in an album. During this time, photography was becoming increasingly accessible. Cator, part of the English upper class, uses it to create an intimate, yet theatrical family history. The artist playfully arranges images around a central figure dressed as a jester, who is scattering photographs across a whimsical landscape. The choice of a jester is intriguing. Traditionally, jesters were truth-tellers, granted the freedom to critique authority through humor. Here, the jester seems to playfully question the formal, often rigid, conventions of family portraiture. This might be a commentary on the roles and expectations within the Victorian family structure, suggesting a hidden critique beneath the surface. The "Cator Family Album" presents a personal and imaginative take on familial identity and representation in a rapidly changing world. It encourages us to consider the stories we tell about ourselves and the ways we perform our identities for each other.