Untitled [half-length view of a seated gentleman] c. 1844 - 1852

This portrait of a seated gentleman was created by Jeremiah Gurney, a prominent New York photographer, using the daguerreotype process. A daguerreotype is created on a silvered copper plate, polished to a mirror finish, then chemically treated to make it light-sensitive. After a lengthy exposure in the camera, the image is developed with mercury vapor, fixed, and sealed behind glass. The final product is a unique, highly detailed, and fragile image that is also laterally reversed, like looking into a mirror. The daguerreotype was revolutionary, democratizing portraiture. Though initially expensive, it soon became accessible to the middle class. Gurney’s meticulous approach and artistic skill elevated photography to an art form, even as it served the growing market for personal mementos. The sitter's carefully chosen attire speaks to the rising culture of consumerism, as people sought to project a certain status through their appearance. Looking at the details of this daguerreotype, we can see the convergence of science, art, and commerce that defined the era, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.