[Lumb Stocks] 1860s

This is an undated photograph of Lumb Stocks by John and Charles Watkins. Produced using the 19th-century photographic technique known as ‘carte de visite,’ it was a calling card, a way to present oneself. The Watkins Brothers were known as portrait photographers. During this period photography grew in popularity due to its ability to capture a likeness quickly and relatively inexpensively. Here, Lumb Stocks’s identity is carefully crafted. He presents himself as a respectable, upper-middle-class man. His dark suit, white shirt and carefully knotted bow tie signifies status. His face is neatly framed by his side whiskers, and he looks directly into the camera with a serious but soft expression. The carte de visite was a tool for social mobility, allowing individuals to project a carefully curated image of themselves, whether to signify professional standing or personal aspiration. It’s fascinating to see how these small images served as powerful tools for self-representation and social navigation in the 19th century.