Eben Matthews as a Child 1839 - 1860

This evocative photograph of Eben Matthews as a child was created anonymously, using the daguerreotype process. This early photographic method involved coating a silvered copper plate with light-sensitive chemicals, exposing it in a camera, and then developing the image with mercury vapor. The result is a one-of-a-kind, highly detailed image with a mirror-like surface, as can be seen here. The fragility and unique quality of daguerreotypes meant they were often presented in protective cases like this one, which has a decorative border. The daguerreotype emerged during the Industrial Revolution, when new technologies transformed not only manufacturing but also the ways in which people perceived and documented their world. While portraiture had previously been the preserve of the wealthy, these new photographic processes made image-making more accessible to a wider range of people. This intimate portrait reminds us that technological advancements can democratize art, challenging traditional hierarchies of skill and subject matter.