Portrait of a Woman c. 1845

This small portrait of a woman is a daguerreotype, an early photographic process, and was made anonymously sometime in the mid-19th century. Consider for a moment, the history of portraiture, and the way it often served as a symbol of status and power, traditionally reserved for the elite. The advent of photography democratized image-making, yet we must acknowledge that access was still largely determined by race and class. Reflect on the gaze of the sitter. What does it mean to encounter her image today, knowing so little about her life, her identity, her experiences? Does this portrait challenge or reinforce existing power structures of the time? What stories do we project onto her image? It’s a poignant reminder of the complex interplay between representation, identity, and history. It invites us to contemplate the narratives that are often unseen or unacknowledged.