Portret van John Bowring before 1868

Editor: So, this is a portrait of John Bowring, made before 1868 by Ernest Edwards. It’s an albumen print – a photograph basically – mounted in an album. There’s a certain formality, almost severity, in his gaze. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Well, think about the time it was made. Photography was still relatively new, so posing for a portrait was a significant act. The subject’s attire and posture are very deliberate; notice how he is posed, seated, but formally upright, conveying dignity. And the choice of including this portrait within an album also has significance; it elevates the photograph, transforming it into something worthy of preservation and display. The cultural memory here relies on material form. Editor: That makes sense. It does seem quite staged. What's the importance of albums then? Is it merely just preservation? Curator: Preservation is certainly a key function. Consider how albums curated identities and narratives, especially during the Victorian era. This photograph is not just an image, it’s a statement – a visual representation carefully constructed and placed within a specific context to communicate status and legacy. And consider how the photograph, itself a relatively new technology, aided this project of legacy-building. Editor: That’s fascinating. So the photo and album combined helped form a historical record. Thanks so much for shedding light on that. Curator: My pleasure. It highlights how photographic images functioned within the wider cultural practices of the time. It encourages us to consider photographs as carefully composed records of historical, political, and social ideas.