Join conservator Tatiana Cole and artist Adam Davis to explore the evolution of photography with a lens on portraiture and imaging Blackness. We’ll look at a selection of portraits showcasing a variety of photographic processes, ranging from 19th-century formats—such as daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes—to today’s inkjet prints. Our conversation will focus on the development of photography as it relates to the documentation of Black communities in the United States. The seminar will serve as a moment for a nuanced discussion in the shadow of Harvard’s historical ties to enslavement.

Led by:
Tatiana Cole, Conservator of Photographs, Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies, Harvard Art Museums
Adam Davis, Artist and 2024–26 Tulsa Artist Fellow