[Gentleman] 1838 - 1842

“[Gentleman]” is a daguerreotype, a photographic process invented in 1839, taken by American photographer Henry Fitz Jr. between 1838 and 1842. The image, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, captures a man in a formal pose, highlighting the early experimentation with portraiture in the nascent field of photography. The ninth-plate dimensions are typical of early daguerreotypes, which were often small and delicate. This image is a testament to the technical innovation and growing popularity of photography during the mid-19th century.