Lea Lilly 1869 - 1874

This photograph of Lea Lilly was created by Jeremiah Gurney, a prominent New York photographer, likely sometime in the 1860s or 70s. During this time, photography studios emerged as important commercial and social spaces. The carte-de-visite format, like the one we see here, gained immense popularity as a way for individuals to collect and exchange portraits of themselves and others. In a society undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization, the rise of photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider range of social classes. The ornate jewelry and fashionable dress worn by Lea Lilly are visual cues of her social status and aspirations. These images reflect the growing consumer culture of the time, where individuals could use their appearance to project a desired identity. Understanding the context of this image requires delving into business records, social histories, and the popular visual culture of the 19th century, reminding us that the meaning of art is deeply rooted in its social and institutional context.