Walter Gropius with his father at about 15 months 1884

Curator: Here we see Walter Gropius, the founder of the Bauhaus School, as a toddler of about 15 months, photographed with his father by Loescher & Petsch. Editor: There's a sweetness to it, despite the formality. A father presenting his child to the world, full of hope. Curator: Consider the social context; photography was becoming more accessible, yet still a constructed event, especially for portraits like this. The photographers, Loescher & Petsch, are even credited at the bottom. Editor: I'm struck by the gender performance here. Gropius is dressed, according to our contemporary eyes, as a girl. Childhood, especially regarding identity, was socially constructed. Curator: Precisely. The materiality of the photograph itself—the paper, the sepia tones—speaks to a specific historical moment and the rise of photographic reproduction. It makes me think about how class and identity are being performed. Editor: It's fascinating to see the seeds of a revolutionary mind in such a conventional, even sentimental, image. Curator: Yes, this artwork is an artifact of a specific time, but seeing the person who would later be so transformative also brings the picture to life. Editor: Absolutely. This seemingly simple portrait opens doors to a range of questions regarding identity, class, and cultural production.