Students in front of Gore Hall 1861 - 1866

Curator: This photograph, by George Kendall Warren, captures a group of students in front of Gore Hall at Harvard. Editor: It’s incredibly formal, isn't it? Everyone looks so serious, like they're posing for a royal portrait, not a casual school photo. Curator: Indeed. Group portraits in this era, with their rigid poses and formal attire, often functioned as symbols of collective identity and institutional pride. Note the doorway, a threshold between knowledge and the world beyond. Editor: A threshold, yes, but also a kind of stage. They're presenting themselves, curating an image of future success, maybe even power. It feels a bit performative. Curator: Perhaps, but consider the weight of tradition. They are stepping into established roles, adhering to sartorial conventions that reinforce belonging and status. Editor: True, the photo radiates the idea of tradition, but the individual ambition still glimmers in a few eyes. Makes you wonder what happened to them all. Curator: Absolutely, a glimpse into the past that still resonates with ambition and tradition. Editor: You're right, a silent but telling moment frozen in time.