Portret van aartsbisschop Alexandros Lykourgos before 1871

This is a portrait of Archbishop Alexandros Lykourgos by John Watkins. The sepia tones imbue the image with a sense of historical remove, inviting contemplation on the passage of time and the enduring nature of representation. Note the geometric containment of the portrait within a sharply defined rectangular border. This enclosure creates a visual tension between the individual and the structures of authority they represent. The Archbishop is presented frontally, his gaze direct, yet the muted palette and small scale domesticate the image. The photograph functions as a sign, pointing beyond its immediate materiality to complex cultural codes of religious status. Watkins's photographic approach invites us to question the role of portraiture. Does it reinforce existing power structures, or does it allow for a renegotiation of meaning? By examining the formal elements and their historical context, we recognize that the work exists as an ongoing interpretation.