Untitled (Young Man Standing) 1839 - 1860

This small, anonymous daguerreotype, "Untitled (Young Man Standing)," depicts a young man standing in a formal pose, likely taken for a personal portrait. The subject is dressed in a dark suit and cap, a common style for young men in the 19th century. The image is enclosed in an ornate, gilded frame, typical of the period, and is now held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Daguerreotypes were a revolutionary photographic process invented in 1839. This example, dating from 1839-1860, exemplifies the technical and artistic advancements of this early photographic format.