Dorio 1869 - 1874

This portrait, titled 'Dorio' was produced by Jeremiah Gurney, who operated one of the most successful photography studios in 19th-century New York. As a carte-de-visite, this photograph used a then-new technology that fueled the democratization of portraiture. The ambrotype process, patented in the 1850s, was quicker and cheaper than earlier photographic methods. It involved creating a unique positive image on a glass plate, which when backed with a dark surface, appeared as a direct positive print. Consider the labor involved: from preparing the chemicals to posing the sitter, developing the plate, and mounting the final print. The material qualities of the ambrotype – its subtle tonal range and delicate surface – contribute to the portrait's intimate and somewhat melancholic feel. Photographs like this made visual representation accessible to a broader public, challenging traditional hierarchies of art and patronage. Gurney's success reflects photography's impact on social life and the changing landscape of visual culture. The photograph offers a glimpse into the intersection of technology, labor, and representation in the 19th century.