Untitled (Portrait of a Man) 1865

"Untitled (Portrait of a Man)" is an 1865 daguerreotype, a photographic process popular in the 19th century. The image, attributed to an anonymous artist, is a close-up portrait of a man, likely a soldier, with a thick beard and a hand resting on his chin. The detail of his facial expression, the worn clothing, and the simple background suggests a snapshot of everyday life in the mid-19th century. The artwork's intimate size and its inclusion in the Art Institute of Chicago collection further emphasizes its historical significance.