Frederick David Langenheim 1849 - 1853

This daguerreotype, created by the Langenheim brothers in 1849-1853, is a portrait of Frederick David Langenheim, a young boy. The image is framed in an oval shape and features a detailed depiction of the boy's clothing and facial features. The dark tones and sharp details of the daguerreotype are characteristic of the early photographic process, highlighting the artistic capabilities of this pioneering medium. The photograph, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into the lives of families in the mid-19th century. The daguerreotype format was popular in the 1840s and 1850s, before the invention of the wet plate collodion process, which allowed for faster exposure times and more affordable photographs.