Portret van John Clifford before 1891

Wyles & Co. created this portrait of John Clifford. Though undated, It exists within a visual culture dominated by the social and political norms of its time. John Clifford, captured in the image, embodies a certain Victorian ideal, his stern gaze and full beard signaling respectability and status. In thinking about representation, it is important to understand how portraiture was historically used to convey power and influence. The photographic medium itself was relatively new, offering a seemingly objective way to record likeness. Yet, we must consider the choices made in framing and staging the image. How might these choices reflect or challenge the prevailing narratives of class and gender? Consider the lack of contextual information, it prompts reflection on whose stories are told and remembered and how these omissions shape our understanding of the past. This portrait invites us to look beyond the surface and question the dynamics of representation inherent in visual culture.