[Edwin Hayes] 1860s

This is a photographic print of Edwin Hayes by John and Charles Watkins. In the 19th century, photography offered a new means of representation that was quickly integrated into social and cultural practices. Consider the conventions of portraiture. Edwin Hayes is shown in a formal pose, likely intended to convey respectability and status. In this period, the photographic studio became an important commercial institution, offering its clientele a means of self-representation according to established social norms. We can see this photograph as shaped by the cultural and economic forces of its time. Photography was becoming more accessible, but still carried associations of social status. Further research into the Watkins studio, and into the networks in which Hayes moved, would give us a richer understanding of this image.