Untitled c. 1850

This is an untitled, cased ambrotype by Knapp. The portrait, likely made in the mid-19th century, encapsulates the intersection of identity and representation during a pivotal era. Considered the first democratic form of portraiture, ambrotypes allowed a wider spectrum of society to participate in image-making. This portrait offers a glimpse into the era’s social dynamics, as the sitter is positioned in relation to notions of class and gender. While his attire suggests middle-class status, the technology made portraiture affordable to more than just the elite. We often think of photography as a transparent medium, but that isn't the case. Every photograph is the result of choices. These early photographs are freighted with our desire to see the past, to understand who these people were. Think about your own relationship to images and consider how you would like to be seen.