Images of John Winthrop and Walt Whitman, Essay Example

Based on the coloration and style of the images of John Winthrop and Walt Whitman, it is evident that these pieces were created during two different time periods. It is clear that the image of John Winthrop was created during a time in which photography was not a readily available medium, which is evident based on the fact that the picture was painted. On the other hand, it appears that the image of Walt Whitman was created during a time in which photography had just become available, which is evident based on the fact that the image is in black and white.

The clothing that each individual wears is indicative of their time period as well. John Winthrop appears very regal and formal, and he is wearing clothing that is meant to represent this image. Based on the style of clothing worn, it appears that this painting was created during either the Renaissance or Elizabethan era. Furthermore, it is clear that John Winthrop posed for this picture, as it was likely a big deal to be the subject of a painting. On the other hand, Walt Whitman appears formal for his time period as well, but it is evident that the style of clothing worn as a whole is more casual than the stylistic expectations of Winthrop’s society. Furthermore, Whitman does not appear to be posing in any formal manner, and it is likely that the photographer wished to capture his image more naturally. One would expect that it Whitman or the time period, cared about appearances as significantly as Winthrop’s, he would appear clean shaven in his photograph. In this situation, this is clearly not the case. While both time periods appear to be more formal than the modern era, Whitman’s era was certainly more casual than Winthrop’s.