John G. Bourke (U.S. Army Sargent at Arms) 1889 - 1890

Editor: Here we have Mathew Brady's portrait of John G. Bourke, a Sargent at Arms, that emanates authority. There's something almost theatrical about his pose. What stands out to you? Curator: The gaze, wouldn't you say? It’s that Victorian stiff-upper-lip stare, but softened by the photographer's gentle touch. Brady’s portraits always feel like little plays, don’t they? Editor: Plays? Curator: Yes! Little dramas of ambition, anxiety, and fleeting moments of self-awareness, all caught in that silvery emulsion. It's a reminder that photography, even then, was about crafting a narrative, not just capturing a likeness. I love it. Editor: That's interesting! I will look at old photographs differently from now on.