John Locke c. 19th century

Editor: This is Michele Bisi’s portrait of John Locke. It feels incredibly formal, almost reverential. What kind of cultural memory was Bisi trying to evoke with this portrait? Curator: Look at the gaze – direct, unwavering. It’s not just a likeness; it’s an icon. Think of Locke's influence, the weight of Enlightenment ideals on governance. Does the controlled etching style amplify that sense of authority? Editor: I see what you mean. The tight lines do suggest a kind of intellectual rigor. Curator: It's as if Bisi is channeling Locke’s ideas into a visual form, cementing his place in the pantheon of thinkers. How might this image function as a symbol of reason? Editor: It's like a visual shorthand for an entire philosophical movement. I hadn't thought of it that way before. Curator: Indeed. Images carry so much more than what's immediately apparent.