Sir John Herschel 1875

Curator: Up next is a remarkable portrait of Sir John Herschel, rendered in 1875 through the lens of Julia Margaret Cameron. Herschel, of course, a towering figure in astronomy and photography, is immortalized in Cameron’s signature pictorialist style, here on view at the Metropolitan Museum. Editor: Right away, the blurry focus feels daring—like she's chasing after a ghost. The composition is unflinching. It’s as if the lens itself is trying to grapple with the weight of Herschel’s intellect and reputation. Curator: The soft focus was indeed a deliberate choice, emblematic of Pictorialism's rejection of photographic realism. Cameron aimed to capture inner character rather than precise detail. Editor: To me, that lends this almost haunting quality. His eyes, a little watery and bloodshot, stare directly at us. The imperfections and the blurred edges give this portrait such depth, such melancholy, it feels very romantic. It also looks…wet? Like he’s in a perpetual state of being tearful? Curator: Cameron's close-up, focusing primarily on his face, is also symbolic. She isolates Herschel’s mind, really, distilling him down to his thoughts and emotions. His gaze reflects deep contemplation, consistent with his intellectual pursuits, a scientist unraveling universal laws. Editor: The lighting, too, is so intense; there’s hardly any softness, which actually exaggerates every little line on his face. She really shows us time’s passage. It feels raw. He probably looks worse here than in reality, and yet that’s exactly where all of its raw truth is. It does also add an immense psychological weight to it. Curator: It also aligns with Cameron’s frequent subjects, influential men and women of her era, individuals whose faces bore the marks of accomplishment and experience, figures carrying significant historical and social weight. Editor: This isn't about mere appearance—it’s an inquiry into a soul! Curator: Precisely. Cameron transcends simple representation. Editor: All in all, this is definitely something to behold. You walk away considering so much, mortality, ambition, and humanity itself.