Untitled (full length portrait of boy in suit with short pants, wearing bowler hat, violin case in left hand, right hand resting on piece of furniture) 1866 - 1899

Curator: This intriguing, untitled portrait by L.A. Collins depicts a young boy in a suit, bowler hat, and boots. Editor: The sepia tones lend a nostalgic air, almost melancholic, wouldn’t you agree? Curator: Absolutely. Looking at this, I consider the constructed nature of childhood—the ways we dress children to reflect societal values and project future roles. The bowler hat, the violin case... Editor: And the stiff formality! I wonder about the cotton or linen likely used for the boy’s oversized bow. Was it factory-made or hand-sewn, indicating class and labor? Curator: Yes, it speaks to labor, class, and gender expectations. The photograph becomes a document revealing aspirations and constraints. Editor: Ultimately, it's the materiality of the photograph itself, the chemical processes, that preserves this moment, allowing us to contemplate those complexities today. Curator: Precisely, a stark reminder of the intersection of identity, aspiration, and representation.