Annie Elsler 1869 - 1874

Editor: This is "Annie Elsler," a photograph taken by Jeremiah Gurney sometime between 1869 and 1874. It's a daguerreotype, which is such an early process! I'm really struck by how the subject almost seems to be looking right through you, despite being a profile shot. It gives the image a really captivating quality. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, aside from Annie's rather fetching ruffled neckline, I see a whole world simmering just beneath the surface. Photography back then wasn’t just about capturing a likeness. It was about capturing a *truth*. Look at her gaze - that slight downturn of the mouth. Does it hint at melancholy? Perhaps. Or is it a strength held in reserve? These images, particularly of women, can act as secret diaries, can't they? Editor: That's fascinating, that it's like a secret diary. So, how much of her personality is really there, versus what Gurney, the photographer, brought to it? Curator: Ah, there’s the rub! It's a dance, always, isn’t it? The photographer positions, directs, maybe even whispers a little something. Annie herself decides how to meet the lens. And let's not forget the light. It washes over her, imbuing the silver with shadows that play tricks on the eye, creating and dissolving certain aspects of her essence. Perhaps *this* Annie existed only for that brief alchemical moment. What do you think? Editor: I think you’re right! It’s so interesting how the photographer and subject collaborated to produce something seemingly very realistic. Thanks, this has changed how I’ll think about 19th-century photographs in the future. Curator: Wonderful! Me too. The image lingers in the mind long after you’ve turned away, doesn't it? Like a melody half-remembered, always drawing you back to listen closer.