Emilio C. Varas (Chilian delegate) 1889 - 1890

Curator: Oh, he looks rather serious, doesn’t he? Almost like he knows something we don’t. Editor: Indeed! This is Mathew Brady's portrait of Emilio C. Varas, a Chilean delegate. There's no date recorded for this particular piece, but Brady was active in the mid to late 19th century. Curator: Well, that mustache certainly speaks of that era. It’s a classic symbol of authority and sophistication. The double-breasted jacket and the draped coat amplify that. Editor: Absolutely. The coat suggests a kind of protective cloak or even a ceremonial drape. It speaks to the importance and the solemnity of his role. Curator: I wonder what he was thinking about at the moment the shutter clicked. Perhaps pondering some weighty political decision? Editor: Perhaps. Or perhaps just hoping the photography session would be over soon. We project our own times onto these still images, searching for echoes. Curator: So true. This portrait offers a silent invitation to reimagine history, doesn't it?