Cameron Bradley (with toy rabbits) c. 20th century

Editor: Here we have Sarah Choate Sears' photograph, "Cameron Bradley (with toy rabbits)". It's quite soft and sepia-toned. What strikes me is how carefully posed this feels. What do you see here? Curator: Knowing Sears was a wealthy woman, this image offers a window into early 20th-century elite childhood. The sailor suit, the carefully chosen toys, even the artistic soft focus, all served to construct and project a certain social identity. How does this staged presentation influence our understanding of childhood? Editor: It almost feels like an advertisement for a particular lifestyle. I hadn’t thought of it that way. Curator: Exactly. It's a fascinating example of how photography could be used to reinforce existing social hierarchies and even idealize certain family dynamics. Editor: Thanks, that gives me a lot to consider about photographic portraiture!