Woman in a Blue Dress 1852

Curator: Here we have John Henry Brown’s "Woman in a Blue Dress," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Immediately, the texture and finish draw me in. It's so smooth, almost like enamel. Editor: The woman's blue dress appears quite deliberately rendered—what can we tell about the role of attire in presenting its subject? Curator: The choice of a vibrant blue silk dress speaks to a level of societal status and access to certain goods. The portrait miniature itself would have been an exclusive commodity, representing status. Editor: Right, and the details: the lace collar, the brooch—they speak volumes about the labor involved in creating such finery and its value within the social hierarchy. Curator: Indeed, and how the sitter wants to be viewed within that hierarchy. It becomes a powerful artifact of representation. Editor: I find that by acknowledging the labor, materials, and consumption, we understand more about the power imbued in possessing and displaying this miniature.