Daniel Colwal c. 17th century

Editor: This is a portrait of Daniel Colwal by Robert White. It looks like an engraving. I'm struck by the framing device, it feels very celebratory. What do you see in it? Curator: It's interesting you noticed that! These portraits were often commissioned by institutions to promote benefactors. The ornament is a nod to power, yes, but what kind of power? How do we see Colwal positioned within the larger social structures of his time through this image? Editor: So, it's about who gets remembered, who gets celebrated, and by whom? Curator: Precisely. And what this image tells us about their values and the power dynamics at play. It's not just a portrait, it's a statement. Editor: It makes me think about who gets memorialized today, and how. Curator: Exactly! The portrait becomes a lens to examine our own biases and the stories we choose to tell.