José Alfonso (Chilian delegate) 1889 - 1890

Editor: Here we see Mathew Brady's photograph of José Alfonso, a Chilean delegate. The fur trim on his coat is striking. What can we say about Brady’s work here? Curator: The materials are key. This is an albumen print, derived from coating paper with egg whites! Brady commodified portraiture, creating a market for images of prominent figures. The tactile quality highlights class and status through clothing and the photographic process itself. Editor: So, it's less about artistry, and more about the means? Curator: Precisely! It’s about the production and consumption of the image as a status symbol. Consider the labor involved in creating such a print and the resources required to acquire it. Editor: I never thought about photography in that way before. It really reframes how I see these historical portraits.