Edward Bromfield Mason, Boston (1837-1863) 1858

Editor: Here we have a portrait of Edward Bromfield Mason by John Adams Whipple. It's a lovely print, almost sepia-toned. What can you tell me about the process of making this? Curator: It’s fascinating to consider the wet collodion process Whipple likely employed, demanding immediate development. Think about the social context too. Photography democratized portraiture, shifting from elite painting to a commodity accessible to the rising middle class. Editor: So, it's less about the sitter and more about the accessibility of the portrait itself? Curator: Precisely. The rise of photography studios reflects changing labor practices and material consumption. How does this new mode of production influence our understanding of representation? Editor: That's a great question. I'll have to think about that. Curator: Indeed. The materiality and means of production shaped art, and in turn, society.