Untitled (Portrait of a Child on a Rocking Horse) 1862

This small portrait of a child on a rocking horse was made by Alexander Hesler using the daguerreotype process. This early form of photography involved coating a silvered copper plate with light-sensitive chemicals, exposing it in a camera, and then developing the image with mercury vapor. The resulting image is incredibly detailed and has a unique, mirror-like surface. It’s presented in a decorative case, elevating it beyond a simple snapshot. Hesler's choice of the daguerreotype process speaks to a moment in history when photography was still a novel and specialized craft, requiring both technical skill and artistic sensibility. The resulting object reflects the social context of the time, where such portraits were luxury items, and signals the rise of industrial capitalism, which made such consumer goods available to a growing middle class. By focusing on the material and processes of this artwork, we gain a deeper understanding of its cultural and historical significance.