Untitled (Self-Portrait of Josiah Johnson Hawes) 1865

This is an untitled self-portrait of Josiah Johnson Hawes, made by the photography studio Southworth & Hawes, likely in the mid-19th century. During this time, photography was becoming more accessible, yet portraiture remained a symbol of status and self-fashioning. Josiah Johnson Hawes presents himself here in a carefully constructed pose of intellectual contemplation. His attire, the books, and the classical column evoke a sense of cultivated gentility, reflecting the aspirations of the middle class in a rapidly changing American society. But what does it mean to perform this kind of masculinity through the new medium of photography? The lack of a definitive title invites us to consider the many layers of identity at play. It encourages a reflection on the gaze, representation, and the very act of self-creation within the social and cultural mores of the time. This image encapsulates a moment of self-definition, hinting at the complex interplay between personal identity and social expectations.