Herman Timothy Coolidge (d. 1889) 1886 - 1887

Editor: This is a mounted photograph of Herman Timothy Coolidge, likely from the late 19th century, made by Pach Brothers. The sepia tone really dates it, doesn't it? What can you tell me about this kind of piece? Curator: This is an albumen print, a process involving coating paper with egg white, then using it to create a photographic print. The Pach Brothers mass-produced these for clients who wanted a relatively affordable, but classy, portrait. Editor: Interesting! So it's not just about capturing an image of Coolidge, but also about the means of production and its accessibility? Curator: Precisely. Consider the social context: who could afford such portraits, and what did it signify to possess one? Editor: I never thought about photographs in terms of material processes like that. Thanks! Curator: It's all about labor and materiality. There's so much more to discover.