Untitled [half-length portrait of a gentleman] 1852 - 1858

This portrait of a gentleman was made by Jeremiah Gurney, a prominent New York photographer, using the daguerreotype process. The image is created on a silvered copper plate, meticulously polished to a mirror finish, then sensitized with iodine vapor. After exposure in the camera, mercury vapor develops the image. What we see here is a unique object. The reflective surface gives the image a subtle, ethereal quality. It feels precious, almost jewel-like. The amount of skill, labor, and materials involved in making a daguerreotype was substantial. Each portrait required careful preparation, precise timing, and a mastery of chemical processes. This is far from the instant snapshots we take today! Consider the social context. In the mid-19th century, photography was still relatively new. Daguerreotypes were luxury items, affordable only to the middle and upper classes. This portrait speaks to a desire for self-representation and status. It also represents the intersection of art, science, and commerce, with skilled craftsmanship meeting the demands of a burgeoning consumer culture. It reminds us that even in the age of mechanical reproduction, materiality, and making still matter.