Photo – Studio Group Portrait, Carlos Endara, Panama -circa 1905

This studio photograph perfectly illustrates the art of Carlos Endara, pioneer of Panamanian photography, in his way of staging social hierarchies. At the center, seated in an armchair, stands out a man of strong presence, recognizable by his long moustache, his dark attire, and his high-laced boots. His seated position, frontal gaze, and the object he holds in his hands underline his role as the main figure of the group.

Around him stand four men dressed in light suits and white hats. Their clothing, typical of the urban elites and middle classes of late 19th‑century Panama, reflects both elegance and adaptation to the tropical climate. The contrast between the dark outfit of the central figure and the light clothing of his companions visually accentuates the implicit hierarchy: the seated man embodies power and centrality, while the others appear as accompanying figures.

The composition, the painted backdrop, and the patterned floor confirm that this is a commissioned portrait, intended to affirm the protagonist’s social status. Despite the sharpness of the portrait, the precise identity of the central man with the long moustache has not been established. However, his prominent role and appearance suggest a member of the landed bourgeoisie, a hacendero, or a local notable linked to the administration or political life of the time.

Carlos Endara Andrade (1865, Ibarra – 1954, Panama)
Carlos Endara Andrade was an important photographer of Ecuadorian origin. Initially trained as a draftsman, he emigrated towards the end of the 19th century to Panama, where he worked for the Universal Company of the Interoceanic Canal. In 1888, he partnered with the Colombian painter and portraitist Epifanio Garay to found the Garay-Endara studio. Between 1899 and 1904, he pursued Fine Arts studies in Paris, perfecting his skills in new photographic techniques.

Upon returning to Panama, in 1910 he opened, with his brother Victoriano, the Casa de Fotografía Endara, which became the most prestigious studio in the capital. He produced portraits of Panama’s leading families, as well as urban and rural scenes, documenting the society of his time. President Belisario Porras commissioned him to photograph the major modernization works of the city.

In Panama there exists the Carlos Endara Museum, also known as the Carlos Endara Andrade Collection, owned by Ana Sánchez Urrutia and Ricardo López Arias, which brings together more than 5,500 original negatives and about 1,300 vintage prints from the Endara studio.

The photograph is preserved in a contemporaneous ebonized wooden frame, decorated with small metallic ornaments.