Fotoalbum met 6 portretten van studenten van het Jesus College in Oxford 1860 - 1861

This photograph features an album of student portraits, possibly from Oxford's Jesus College, and was produced by J. Bagnall Evans. The album's external composition is divided into two distinct textural segments. A mottled cover, dominated by swirling patterns in deep red set against a somber background, contrasts with the smooth, solid-colored spine. The swirling, marbled effect on the cover is particularly striking. It suggests a sense of depth and complexity, while the spine provides a structural anchor, stabilizing the visual field. The album’s formal structure invites contemplation on themes of memory, identity, and the passage of time. The album prompts questions about representation and categorization. What narratives do these portraits convey, and how do they reflect the subjects’ place within the social and intellectual environment of their time? This photograph is not just an aesthetic object but a cultural artifact that embodies a specific historical context.