[Unknown Subject] 1862 - 1867

This photograph of an unknown subject was taken by Paul-Augustin Gueuvin, and is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The subject is captured in a sepia tone, giving the image a warm, antique feel, which is heightened by the limited tonal range. Structurally, the photograph presents a study in contrasts. The man's tailored jacket, waistcoat and bow tie are formal, precise, and contained, yet the open jacket and casual hand in pocket loosen the composition. This creates a dynamic tension. Note how the gaze is directed off to the left, an invitation beyond the frame and into the viewer's space. The formal composition can be read as a sign of bourgeois aspirations and the negotiation of identity through representation. In closing, consider how the formality of the composition and the sitter's attire speaks to the semiotics of class and identity in the 19th century, captured and communicated through the then-novel medium of photography.