Portrait of a Clown c. 1863

This carte de visite, "Portrait of a Clown", was taken by the Fisher Brothers, a prolific photography duo working in the United States during the mid-19th century. The photograph, dating back to around 1863, captures a clown in full costume, standing against a simple backdrop. The clown's exaggerated makeup, polka-dotted costume, and striped stockings highlight the humor and theatricality of the profession. The carte de visite format, popular in the mid-19th century, was a small, standardized photograph format used for sharing portraits and promoting performers.