Firman 1869 - 1874

Jeremiah Gurney, a pioneering American photographer, captured this carte-de-visite, a small paper photograph, during the height of its popularity. At a time when photography was becoming more accessible, Gurney ran one of New York’s leading studios. His clientele included prominent figures, but also everyday individuals seeking to preserve their likeness. The woman’s gaze drifts away, her posture conveying a sense of introspection and perhaps melancholy. It's fascinating to consider what it meant for women to participate in the burgeoning visual culture of the 19th century, and how they navigated the act of being seen, and represented. Photography offered new possibilities for self-representation, and Gurney’s portrait invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between identity, representation, and the evolving role of women in society. It leaves one to ponder the woman's internal world and the stories that remain untold.