Mrs. Harleston Parker (née A. Ellen Reynolds) 1893

Editor: This daguerreotype, "Mrs. Harleston Parker" by the Pach Brothers, feels so personal, almost like a cherished memento. What kind of statement do you think these early photographic portraits were making? Curator: These images solidified the rise of the middle class. Photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible to those who couldn't afford painted portraits. They were staking a claim on their social position. Editor: So, it's about social mobility and representation? Curator: Precisely. How do you see the role of the photographer fitting into this narrative? Were they artists, entrepreneurs, or something in between? Editor: I guess they were a bit of both, capturing aspirations and building a business at the same time. Curator: Exactly. The Pach Brothers captured an era and a shifting social landscape. Editor: I never thought of photography as such a social force. Curator: It’s all about context.