Untitled (bust length portrait of clean shaven man labeled Milford Seward Power) 1886 - 1887

Curator: This is a photograph of Milford Seward Power, taken by the Pach Brothers of Cambridge, Massachusetts. It’s a small cabinet card, about 16 by 10 centimeters. Editor: He has this kind of earnest, forward-looking gaze…but it's also a bit melancholic, as if he knows more than he lets on. Curator: Knowing this was a studio portrait, he's likely been directed to look just so. The high collar and carefully knotted tie speak to a certain formality of the era. Editor: Absolutely. But the sepia tone and soft focus give it a dreamy, almost ethereal quality. It's like looking at a ghost. A very well-dressed ghost. Curator: The Pach Brothers were known for their portraits of Harvard students. Perhaps Mr. Power was among them, captured at a pivotal moment in his life. Editor: It certainly makes you wonder about his story, doesn't it? What were his hopes and dreams? What did he make of the world? Curator: Indeed. A fleeting image that invites endless speculation. Editor: A poignant reminder of time's passage and the enduring power of a photograph.