Portrait of Mrs. Julia Ward Howe c. 1900

This portrait of Mrs. Julia Ward Howe was made by Sarah Choate Sears, who was known for her artistic photography. Sears would have used a large format camera and glass plate negatives, with a process involving coating, exposing, and developing the plates, all within a darkroom. This was painstaking, slow work, and far from the instant gratification we associate with photography today. The results are so tonally rich, so finely detailed. Note the lace collar and cap that Howe is wearing: Sears captures this delicate, handmade fabric with incredible sensitivity. What’s fascinating here is the contrast between the laborious photographic process and the subject herself. Howe was an advocate for abolition and women's suffrage. The image connects to the wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Ultimately, by considering its materials, making, and historical context, we can gain a deeper understanding of the image and begin to challenge traditional distinctions between photography, craft, and fine art.