[George Smith] 1860s

This is a photograph of George Smith by John and Charles Watkins. These photographs were mass produced in the mid-19th century and are known as ‘carte de visite’, a calling card of sorts. Photography during this period was rapidly evolving from a process available only to a few to one accessible to a broader segment of the population. The ‘carte de visite’ emerged as a powerful tool of representation and self-fashioning, especially for the burgeoning middle class. Notice how Smith carefully presents himself. His neatly groomed beard, and his suit indicate a level of social standing and respectability. In a society marked by rigid class structures, the ability to commission and distribute one's own image held profound implications. This image, with its meticulous detail and formal composition, embodies the aspirations and self-perception of a man navigating the complexities of Victorian society. Photography democratized portraiture, but it also froze social hierarchies in newly accessible ways, reflecting and shaping societal values and individual identities.