Edmonia Lewis (1845-1907) c. 1870

Editor: Here we have a photograph of Edmonia Lewis by Henry Rocher. It’s quite small, and I am interested in the dark fabric draped across her. What story can you tell about the making of this image? Curator: Let’s consider the material conditions. This carte-de-visite format allowed for mass production and distribution of images. What does it mean to have this material process applied to a woman artist in the 19th century, particularly one of African American and Native American heritage? Editor: So, it’s not just a portrait, but a statement about visibility and access? Curator: Precisely. The very act of Rocher producing and selling this image complicates notions of artistic production and representation, challenging who gets to be seen and how their image circulates. Editor: I never thought about photography that way before. Thanks for sharing! Curator: A pleasure. It is important to see it as more than just an image.