Untitled (studio portrait, man in plaid ringing bells) c. 1910

Editor: This photograph by Durette Studio pictures a man in plaid with bells. It's an intriguing, ghostly image. What social dynamics do you see at play here? Curator: The studio portrait in the late 19th and early 20th centuries became a stage for social aspiration. His costume and props might signal his participation in a fraternal order, charity, or perhaps even a theatrical troupe. It's about performing identity. Editor: Performing identity, that's interesting. Curator: What does this image suggest about the performative aspects of civic participation and social identity in that period? Editor: It makes me wonder about the line between genuine engagement and performative activism. Curator: Exactly, and how photographic portraits themselves contribute to constructing these narratives.