James Gedney King (d. 1878) 1874 - 1875

Editor: This is a cabinet card of James Gedney King, taken by William Notman. It has a formal air. What visual cues are most evocative for you? Curator: The oval vignette isolates King, almost enshrining him. Notice the upward gaze, a conventional signal of aspiration. The mustache speaks of belonging and conformity, of a particular social type. Editor: So, the pose and the mustache are signifiers? Curator: Precisely. They're visual shortcuts, encoding social expectations and personal ambitions. It is a reminder that every element, even the seemingly insignificant, contributes to a narrative. Editor: I never thought of a mustache carrying so much meaning. Curator: Such details reveal so much about a culture's values and how individuals perform their identities.