D. C. Robbins 1858 - 1869

This is a photograph of D. C. Robbins, made by Jeremiah Gurney, a prominent New York photographer during the mid-19th century. It's easy to see this simply as a portrait, but in the context of the 1800s it meant more than that. Photography was relatively new, and it offered a way for the middle class to participate in modes of visual representation that were previously reserved for the elite. The rise of photography studios like Gurney’s democratized portraiture, challenging traditional hierarchies of representation. Looking at Robbins, his attire, and the carefully arranged studio setting, it’s clear that this image was intended to project respectability and social standing. The photograph thus becomes a document of social aspiration, reflecting the values and norms of a rapidly changing society. To truly understand this image, we can look to studio records, period advertisements, and social histories of photography. This reveals the complex interplay between artistic practice, technological innovation, and social change.