Untitled (unidentified infant, seated, wearing hat with large bow on top) 1890 - 1893

Editor: Here we have a photograph by Lemuel Wallace Cook, "Untitled (unidentified infant, seated, wearing hat with large bow on top)." It has such a staged and serious feel. What can you tell me about the role of portraiture at this time? Curator: This small photograph provides a glimpse into the rise of studio portraiture in the 19th century. The carefully arranged setting and the child's elaborate costume speak to the burgeoning middle class and their desire to emulate the aristocracy through formalized portraits. How do you think this image functions within that social context? Editor: It's like a status symbol, a way to participate in a visual culture previously reserved for the elite. I guess the mass availability democratizes art in a way? Curator: Precisely. And consider the photographer, L.W. Cook, advertising himself as a "Photo Artist." This self-declaration reveals the evolving status of photography as a respected art form. This shifts the socio-political meaning of imagery and its proliferation among the masses. Editor: That's such a great point about the photographer's role. It makes you consider what is being visually communicated and to whom.