Colonel Elmer Ephraim Ellsworth (1837-1861) c. 1863

This photograph of Colonel Elmer Ephraim Ellsworth was made by Jeremiah Gurney, one of the leading photographers in mid-19th century New York. The photograph is an albumen print, a process that involves coating paper with egg white to create a smooth surface for the photographic emulsion. The albumen print was a popular format for portraits because it allowed for sharp details and a wide range of tones. Here, we see the crispness of Ellsworth's uniform, and the soft focus of the background, carefully constructed to convey a sense of military authority. The photograph would have been produced in multiple copies, a relatively inexpensive way to circulate the image of a public figure. What's fascinating is how this new technology democratized portraiture, but also standardized it. The very process of photography—the posing, the printing, the distribution—speaks to a society rapidly embracing industrial modes of production. It also foreshadows the rise of celebrity culture, as figures like Ellsworth were mass-produced and consumed as images. It reminds us that even seemingly straightforward portraits are deeply embedded in social and economic contexts.