[S.Read] 1860s

John and Charles Watkins captured this albumen silver print of S. Read, a member of Parliament, sometime between 1840 and 1875. During the Victorian era, portraiture became increasingly popular, reflecting shifts in social status and identity. The Watkins brothers, known for their photographic portraiture, captured the likenesses of prominent figures like S. Read. The photograph visualizes the sitter's social standing through his attire, which includes a dark jacket, a white collared shirt and a bow tie. The image operates within the visual codes of class and power, reinforcing the sitter’s position within the British social hierarchy. Consider how the photographic medium itself, still relatively new at the time, was being used to solidify social identities and project power. This portrait invites us to consider the relationship between photography, identity, and the construction of social status in Victorian England.