Portret van Désiré Tassin before 1863

This is a portrait of Désiré Tassin, a civil engineer credited with the discovery of electricity in steam engines. This photograph, created before 1863 by an unknown artist, is likely a carte de visite, a popular format for portrait photography in the 19th century. The small size of the photograph, measuring 125 mm x 86 mm, and the subject's formal pose with a serious expression indicate the portrait's intended use as a personal calling card or for dissemination in scientific circles. The image is likely a sepia-toned print, a common printing process during this period.