Benjamin Graves Brown, Marblehead, Massachusetts (1837-1903) 1858

Editor: This is a portrait of Benjamin Graves Brown of Marblehead, Massachusetts, created by John Adams Whipple. It looks like a photograph. What can you tell me about the symbols at play here? Curator: A portrait, especially in the mid-19th century, signifies status and legacy. Consider the sitter’s gaze: direct, conveying confidence. The beard, full and well-kept, speaks to the period's ideals of masculinity and wisdom. The bow tie and dark jacket suggest respectability. What emotional weight do these elements carry for you? Editor: I suppose it’s about power and control, presenting an image of someone to be taken seriously. Curator: Precisely. Photography, even then, was a way of shaping memory and projecting a certain persona. Editor: That's a really interesting point, and it makes me look at the portrait in a new light. Thanks.