Untitled (Portrait of Three Woman and a Man) 1858

This is an anonymous portrait of three women and a man rendered with the daguerreotype process. In the mid-19th century, this new technology offered a stark and compelling visual language. Looking at this image, consider how the family wanted to present themselves. Who are these people and what were the social conditions of photographic portraiture at that time? What kind of cultural capital did it signify? We can examine photographic journals, manuals, and advertisements from the period to gain insight into the rituals, poses, and cultural norms associated with early photography. This daguerreotype provides a glimpse into the visual culture of its time and how families chose to represent themselves. The historian’s work is to understand the social and institutional contexts that gave it meaning.