Bum-bemsue 1847

"Bum-bemsue" is a daguerreotype portrait of a Native American man holding a bow and arrow. The photograph was taken in 1847 by Thomas Martin Easterly, an American photographer known for his portraits of Native Americans. The image, part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, captures the sitter in a traditional headdress and clothing. The detail of the man's expression and the intricate beadwork on his clothing adds to the historical and artistic significance of this work. The daguerreotype process, a forerunner to modern photography, captures the subject with remarkable detail, highlighting the texture of the clothing and the intricate patterns.