Untitled (portrait of a young man in a three piece suit) c. 1915

Curator: This is an intriguing portrait by Hamblin Studio, simply titled "Untitled (portrait of a young man in a three piece suit)." Editor: It's striking, almost ghostly, with the inverted tones. The composition is quite formal, though. Curator: Absolutely. Consider how the sitter's pose and attire signal respectability, perhaps even aspirations of upward mobility given the context of photographic portraiture becoming more accessible. How does this fit with ideas about class and representation at the time? Editor: And let’s not overlook the materiality of the photograph itself. The glass negative process would have been labor-intensive, requiring specialized knowledge and equipment. This impacts how we understand its purpose. Curator: Yes, thinking about the value placed on a single image and the role of the studio in shaping identity makes me question how marginalized groups had limited agency in representation. Editor: It's a reminder that even seemingly straightforward images are embedded in layers of social and material history. Curator: Exactly, it encourages us to examine whose stories are being told and how.