Untitled (bust length portrait of man with beard, wearing wing collar and bow tie labeled Jones) 1870 - 1875

Curator: This is an untitled portrait by William Notman, active in the latter half of the 19th century. The sitter is identified as "Jones." Editor: It's striking how the sepia tones and soft focus lend a certain gravitas to the image. It feels very much of its time. Curator: Absolutely. Notman was a master of photographic portraiture, capturing the burgeoning Canadian identity in a time of nation-building. His studio mass-produced these images. Editor: Interesting to think about it as a reproducible commodity, and the sitter, presumably middle class, engaging in that culture of consumption and display. Curator: It's a fascinating confluence of industrial techniques, social aspirations, and the democratization of representation. Editor: Examining the way the paper support influenced the tone of the final print deepens my appreciation for the labor and resources involved in its creation. Curator: Indeed, it provides a compelling look into the visual culture of that era. Editor: It certainly does.