Seth Miller Murdock, New York (1836-1919?) 1858

Editor: Here we have a portrait of Seth Miller Murdock by John Adams Whipple. It's a photograph, dating back to the 19th century. What strikes me is the material itself—the sepia tone and the visible texture of the paper. What do you think about how materiality informs our understanding of the piece? Curator: This image is very interesting from the perspective of material production. Consider the labor involved in early photographic processes like daguerreotypes or this possibly albumen print. How does the material and its means of production challenge traditional ideas of art making? Editor: So, it's more than just the image, it's about the context of how it was made? Curator: Exactly. We must consider the social and economic forces that shaped its creation and its value as a commodity. Editor: That really changes my perspective on this piece.