Portret van Thomas Symonds 1730 - 1732

This is a portrait of Thomas Symonds, made with mezzotint by George White, who was active in the early 18th century. Portraits during this time served not just as likenesses, but as carefully constructed statements about social standing and identity. Symonds is presented in an oval frame, a format that evokes classical sculpture and suggests timelessness. Consider his powdered wig and formal jacket: these details signal his status within the British gentry. But let's think about what isn’t shown. What about the lives of those excluded from this world of privilege? What were the politics of representation at this time and who controlled them? White's artistic skill is clear, yet it also participated in reinforcing a specific social order. Look at the subtle expressions of power and exclusion embedded in the very fabric of this image, and perhaps consider how we might re-evaluate these visual histories today.