[Richard James Lane] 1860s

This is a photograph of Richard James Lane, made around the mid-19th century by John and Charles Watkins. At first glance, the sepia tones evoke a sense of the past, while the soft focus lends a dreamlike quality to the sitter. The composition is carefully constructed around the subject’s gaze. Lane’s head is tilted and his eyes directed towards the viewer, creating a line of engagement that anchors the portrait. His hand raised to his head adds a sense of depth and also directs our eyes to his face. Here we see the emergence of photography as a medium trying to establish its own visual language and cultural significance in the 19th Century. It is evident how the interplay of light and shadow emphasizes texture, revealing the material reality of the print itself. Photography is not just about representation, but the creation of new systems of seeing and understanding.