Untitled (unidentified sitter) c. 1858

Editor: Here we have an untitled portrait by John Adams Whipple. I’m struck by the formality and the way the sitter is presented. What can you tell me about the context in which this was made? Curator: It’s fascinating how portraiture, particularly photography, served a democratizing function in the 19th century. Who had access to portraiture, and how did this change with photography's rise? Editor: So, photography made portraiture accessible to the middle class? Curator: Precisely. This image speaks volumes about the changing social landscape and the aspirations of a burgeoning middle class. Editor: That's an interesting point. I hadn't considered how portraiture reflects social shifts. Curator: Indeed, it reveals how artistic mediums can reflect and shape societal structures.