Untitled (The Honorable Augustus Sandys (1840-1904) and "Colleen") 1862 - 1888

Editor: So, this photograph, "Untitled (The Honorable Augustus Sandys (1840-1904) and "Colleen")" by Mary Georgiana Caroline Cecil Filmer, presents a formal portrait of a man with his horse and carriage. It feels incredibly staged and reserved. What do you see in this piece, beyond the obvious? Curator: It whispers of the Victorian era's fascination with social class and the performance of identity. The composition is quite rigid, isn't it? Almost like a theater set. I wonder, was Filmer exploring the relationship between man and animal as status symbols? Editor: That's an interesting point! The horse does seem more like an accessory than a companion. Curator: Indeed! It makes me think about how much we project onto animals, then and now. Did they ever truly belong to us, or we to them? Editor: I never thought of it that way before. Thanks!