Henry Pickering Bowditch (1840-1911) 1899

Editor: This portrait by Sarah Gooll Putnam depicts Henry Pickering Bowditch. The dark palette and the fur coat give it a serious, almost imposing feel. What symbols or deeper meanings do you see here? Curator: The fur coat, in its texture and warmth, can be seen as a symbol of status and protection, but also of a certain worldliness. Notice how Bowditch's gaze meets ours directly. Does this directness suggest something about his character, or perhaps about the artist's perception of him? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't considered the fur beyond its literal function. It definitely adds another layer. Curator: Indeed. And thinking about the context, what might this portrait signify about the relationship between science, wealth, and social standing in that era? Editor: I see what you mean. I'll have to keep an eye out for similar uses of clothing as symbols in other portraits, too. Curator: Precisely! It's all about recognizing the subtle language of images and what they tell us about the past.