Composition group before 1899

This black and white photograph of a composition group was taken by Alfred Brothers sometime in the late 19th century. At this time photography was still finding its place as both a form of documentation and creative expression. The photograph depicts a formal gathering, likely of a scholarly or professional group given the book in which it’s printed, an instructional manual. The all-male assembly points to the gendered nature of professional spaces during this period. The men are dressed in similar dark suits, reinforcing a sense of uniformity and shared status. While seemingly a straightforward depiction of a group portrait, the photograph subtly highlights the power dynamics of the era. It invites us to consider the limited access to such circles based on gender and class, while prompting us to consider how traditional representations either solidify or challenge the norms of their time.