Confederate Cabinet (maquette for carte de visite photograph, including six albumen silver prints depicting John C. Breckenridge, Alexander H. Stephens, Stephen R. Mallory, Jefferson Davis, Judah P. Benjamin, and John H. Reagan) 1861 - 1862

Editor: This is Mathew Brady's "Confederate Cabinet," a carte de visite photograph from the 19th century, utilizing albumen silver prints. I'm struck by how these portraits, seemingly arranged for mass production, served a very specific political purpose. What do you see in this piece, considering Brady's role in documenting the Civil War? Curator: I see an artifact deeply embedded in the means of production and the social context of the Civil War. The albumen print process allowed for mass dissemination of these images, making propaganda readily available. It asks us to consider the consumption of these images and their role in constructing a specific narrative. Editor: So it's less about the individuals portrayed and more about the act of producing and distributing these images? Curator: Precisely. The materiality of the photograph and its widespread circulation highlight the industrialization of image-making and its connection to political ideologies and historical events. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. Thanks. Curator: It highlights the power of images in shaping perception and solidifying political stances.