The Brigade de Shoe Black, City Hall Park c. 1865

This stereograph, made by E. & H.T. Anthony, shows a group of young shoeshiners assembled in front of a wall plastered with advertisements. Photography in the 19th century involved a complex interplay of chemical processes. Light-sensitive emulsions coated on glass or metal plates captured images through extended exposure times. The resulting photograph could then be printed onto paper, producing the final image. Here, the shoeblack brigade poses formally against a backdrop of posters that provide a glimpse into the culture of the time. This wall of advertisements reveals an emerging mass culture, where entertainment and consumer goods were aggressively promoted. The posters also hint at the social realities of the era, advertising minstrel shows that perpetuated racial stereotypes. The Brigade is an image of children at work, an underclass trying to scrape by. But the very act of memorializing them elevates their status, at least for the duration of the photographic exposure. Paying attention to both the materials and the social context, we start to unpack the complex meanings embedded within this seemingly simple image. The Anthony brothers’ photography reminds us that art is always intertwined with the broader world of labor, politics, and consumption.