Eugene Frederick Bliss, Janesville, Wisconsin (1836-?) 1858

Editor: Here we have John Adams Whipple's photograph of Eugene Frederick Bliss, likely from 1856. The tones are so rich and the portrait so composed. What can you tell us about the material and production of this image? Curator: This photograph speaks volumes about the burgeoning middle class and photographic industry. Consider the resources required: the chemicals, the paper, the studio space, and Bliss's own access to disposable income to commission this portrait. Editor: So, it's less about capturing his likeness and more about participating in a certain social ritual? Curator: Precisely! And think of Whipple's labor: his skill in manipulating these materials, his business acumen in attracting clients. It reflects the changing landscape of labor and leisure. Editor: I never considered photography through the lens of production before. Thanks! Curator: It really changes how we see it, doesn't it?