Le montagnard 1860s

"Le montagnard" is a portrait photograph taken in the 1860s by the French photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson. The image depicts a young boy standing in profile, his long hair cascading down his back. The boy's attire, featuring a dark jacket and trousers adorned with a unique belt and buckle design, suggests a mountain dweller or rustic theme, hence the title, "Le montagnard" meaning "the mountaineer." Pierson's photographic style captures the subject with remarkable clarity and detail, showcasing the inherent beauty of his subject and the simplicity of his surroundings. This piece, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is an example of Pierson's early work in portrait photography, demonstrating his skillful use of light and composition.