[Seated Middle-aged Man in Bow Tie and Jacket] 1850s

"Seated Middle-aged Man in Bow Tie and Jacket" is a daguerreotype portrait by John Watkins, a prominent American photographer of the mid-19th century. The image, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases a man in a formal pose, seated with his hand on his leg and head resting on his hand, highlighting the meticulous detail and artistic potential of early photographic techniques. The use of a simple backdrop and dramatic lighting creates a sense of intimacy and authenticity, reflecting the emerging genre of portrait photography in the 1850s.