Fotoreproductie van een portret van Samuel Ogden before 1879

This photogravure of Reverend Samuel Ogden was made by T. Illingworth. It reproduces an earlier chalk drawing. The very act of reproducing this portrait speaks to the social structures of its time, likely the late 19th century. Photography, especially in printed form, democratized image production, making portraits accessible beyond the elite who could afford painted likenesses. The choice to reproduce a chalk drawing rather than a painting might also speak to shifting tastes and a growing interest in different artistic styles. Consider the role of institutions. Ogden was a reverend, signifying the power of the church, while the photograph itself was likely commissioned or found its way into a book, reflecting the growing importance of publishing and documentation. To understand this image fully, we might explore the history of photography, the social standing of clergymen in the 19th century, and the role of printed images in shaping public perception. Art isn't created in a vacuum but is contingent on its socio-institutional contexts.