Sir William Fergusson before 1877

Here we see a photographic print of Sir William Fergusson by Lock & Whitfield. It's presented within the structured environment of an open book, a formal arrangement that immediately frames our perception. The portrait itself, encased in an oval border, invites contemplation on the themes of enclosure and exposure. Fergusson's profile, sharply defined, directs our gaze along the contours of his face, a study in the geometry of human form. The artists employ tonal variation to evoke depth and texture. The blank page on the left creates a visual tension, a void that mirrors the absent narratives of history. This deliberate contrast pushes us to consider the photograph not just as a record of an individual, but as a constructed image, carefully composed and purposefully framed. In its formal restraint, the print challenges us to decode the layers of representation and the interplay between presence and absence.