Photograph of the Portrait of Caspar Goodrich after 1888

Curator: What strikes me immediately is the somber mood, almost a weightiness, in this portrait, despite the boy’s youth. Editor: Indeed. This is a photograph of John Singer Sargent's "Portrait of Caspar Goodrich," held in the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a small piece, less than 20 centimeters in either direction. Curator: Something about the way he's holding his arms, and that slightly severe gaze makes me think of a miniature admiral. Editor: Perhaps. The material constraints of photography at the time—long exposure times—likely contributed to that stillness. I wonder about the labour involved in producing and framing it. Curator: It's also quite arresting, how his stern expression clashes with the frame. I can't help but find it all rather charming. Editor: Well, I appreciate how it reminds us that even seemingly straightforward portraits are products of specific technologies and social contexts. Curator: And I will be leaving this spot with an image of a kid playing dress-up in my mind. Editor: A fitting thought to end with, indeed.