Mrs. Craik 1850s

"Mrs. Craik," an anonymous portrait of two women, is a daguerreotype from the 1850s. The women are depicted in a close-up, seated together, and their arms are around each other. The formal attire of the sitters and the soft, romantic quality of the image exemplify the popularity of daguerreotypes as a fashionable and intimate form of portraiture during the mid-19th century. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.