Untitled (Mrs. George Ferguson, seated, holding infant) 1862 - 1888

Curator: Here we have an untitled photograph by Mary Georgiana Caroline Cecil Filmer, showing Mrs. George Ferguson seated and holding an infant. It’s part of a bound album, roughly 29 by 23 centimeters in size. Editor: The overall mood is quite somber, wouldn’t you say? The tonal range is very narrow, mostly grayscale, and the composition feels somewhat enclosed, despite the window behind the figures. Curator: Absolutely. The photographic albums of the time served as displays of social standing, where the subjects consciously perform expected gender roles. The staging certainly emphasizes a particular vision of motherhood. Editor: I’m struck by how the patterned fabric of her dress contrasts with the smooth, almost featureless wrap of the infant. It almost abstracts the maternal role into pattern and form. Curator: Interesting. This was the Victorian era, after all, a period when women's societal roles were heavily mediated by class and marriage. This photograph seems to capture the tensions inherent in that. Editor: It leaves a lingering sense of constrained expectation. A fascinating piece, really.