[William Charles Thomas Dobson] 1860s

Here we see a photograph of William Charles Thomas Dobson made by John and Charles Watkins. His striking beard, meticulously styled, makes one think of the ancient traditions of male adornment and the symbolism of virility and wisdom associated with beards across cultures. From the pharaohs of ancient Egypt to the philosophers of Greece, beards have signified power, status, and a connection to the divine. Think of depictions of Zeus or Neptune, their beards a symbol of their authority and age-old wisdom. In Dobson’s time, the Victorian era, this fashion indicated respectability and refinement. However, its significance transcends mere fashion. It echoes a deep-seated, almost primal connection to masculinity, a cultural memory passed down through generations. The presence of such a distinct marker of identity inevitably evokes powerful emotions and subconscious associations. This image, like many others, reveals how cultural symbols continually resurface, transformed yet still resonant with their origins.