Thomas Bayley Fox Jr. (1839-1863) c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have Thomas Murphy's portrait of Thomas Bayley Fox Jr., likely made around 1863. The drawing has a quiet intensity to it. What's striking to you about this piece? Curator: The materials tell a story. The graphite, a common medium, elevates a soldier—likely for mass consumption. This challenges the traditional hierarchy of portraiture. Did this democratize representation or simply commodify grief during wartime? Editor: That’s a great point. So, the choice of medium reflects the social context and the means of production? Curator: Exactly. Consider the labor involved in producing such portraits, the access to materials, and who could afford to commission or purchase them. It’s all interwoven. Editor: I never thought about it that way before. It is definitely something to consider. Curator: Indeed, materiality often unveils the hidden narratives of history.