Charles William Eliot (1834-1926) 1907

Curator: John Singer Sargent, most known for his portraits, painted this commanding depiction of Charles William Eliot, a former president of Harvard University. It's quite grand, isn't it? Editor: It feels… austere. The predominantly grayscale palette and the architectural backdrop lend a certain weightiness to the figure. I am more interested in the black frock coat. Curator: Indeed. The black frock coat is essential. The portrait's grandeur isn't just aesthetic; it's tied to the elite academic circles and institutional power Eliot embodies. Look at the material and form. Editor: It reminds me of those graduation photos everyone takes, only infinitely more… serious. I wonder if he ever just kicked back in sweatpants? Curator: I am sure the man has a great story, but the weight of the image rests on the commodification of education as a social product. Editor: Perhaps we can never know the whole story. But it does leave one with a lingering sense of curiosity, doesn't it? Curator: Yes, about the role of education as a commodity in a capitalist society.