Portrait of a Woman c. 1860

This ‘Portrait of a Woman’ is a small photograph, likely dating to the mid-19th century, made by an anonymous photographer. This kind of image is called an ambrotype, an early photographic process that created a positive image on glass. The ambrotype involved coating a glass plate with a light-sensitive emulsion, exposing it in a camera, and then chemically developing the image. The resulting image is fragile, so it was typically mounted in a protective case, often with a decorative metal mat. The final product was a unique object, part photograph and part handcrafted artifact. Considered as a whole, this portrait encapsulates the transition from handcraft to industrial production in the 19th century. Photography democratized image-making, but it also displaced the labor of portrait painters. The artistry of the ambrotype lies in the skilled manipulation of materials and chemistry, combined with an eye for composition and light. It’s a potent reminder that even in the age of mechanical reproduction, the human hand remains essential.