Portret van een onbekende man c. 1841s

This daguerreotype portrait of an unknown man was taken by Richard Beard, a pioneer of photography, around 1841. The image is small, measuring only 74 mm in height and 59 mm in width, showcasing the detail and artistry of the early photographic medium. The subject is depicted in a formal pose, wearing a dark suit and a white shirt, his gaze fixed on the viewer. The daguerreotype, a unique and highly detailed photographic process, was incredibly popular in the 19th century, capturing personal moments and individual likenesses with unprecedented accuracy. This early portrait serves as a powerful reminder of the rapid advancements in photography during the early 19th century, as well as the enduring impact of the photographic medium in capturing and preserving human likeness.