An Ethiopian Chief c. 1897 - 1902

F. Holland Day created this gelatin silver print, called 'An Ethiopian Chief', sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Day was a prominent figure in the Pictorialist movement, which advocated for photography to be recognized as a fine art. But it's important to remember that photography developed alongside some pretty problematic colonial ideas. This image, with its classical composition and romanticized subject, reflects the exoticizing gaze that was often directed toward non-Western cultures. The title itself reinforces a hierarchical view, casting the subject as an exotic other. We might ask ourselves what social and political narratives this photograph was reinforcing at a time when racial stereotypes were deeply entrenched in western society. Understanding the social and institutional context of art requires us to consult a range of resources: historical documents, critical essays, and of course, the lived experiences and perspectives of the communities represented.