Evangelinus Apostolides Sophocles (1805-1883) 1879 - 1883

Curator: This is a portrait of Evangelinus Apostolides Sophocles, captured by James Notman. The mount measures 16.5 x 11.1 cm. Editor: The subject's penetrating gaze is quite intense. The sepia tones soften the overall effect. Curator: Notman, a commercial photographer based in Boston, capitalized on the market for academic portraits. Consider the labor involved: posing, developing, printing, and mounting. It's a commodity object representing intellectual authority. Editor: There's a stark contrast between the sharpness of the eyes and the ethereal quality of the beard, almost like a halo. It gives him a somewhat oracular presence. Curator: These portraits served a specific purpose. They were collected, displayed, and traded as emblems of Harvard’s intellectual prowess. Note Notman’s name is boldly stamped onto the card, branding this image. Editor: I see. Through line and tone, this image creates a powerful representation of scholarly gravitas. Curator: Precisely, and its production was deeply embedded within the social and economic structures of the time. Editor: It's fascinating to look at this image through those lenses.