Francis Calley Gray c. 19th century

Editor: This is Lazarus Gottlieb Sichling's portrait of Francis Calley Gray. It's an engraving. The subject looks so serious! What's your take on it? Curator: Portraits like these were crucial in shaping public perception in the 19th century. Consider the institutional power at play. How does Sichling's depiction of Gray reinforce or challenge existing social hierarchies and values of the time? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Curator: The portrait becomes a site where power, status, and representation intersect. That's what I see. Editor: I see it now too. Thanks!