Jenny Elitz Van Zandt 1869 - 1874

Jeremiah Gurney made this photographic portrait of Jenny Elitz Van Zandt in New York, likely in the 1870s. Gurney's studio was known for its society portraits, catering to the wealthy elite eager to embrace this relatively new technology. Note the details – the lace of her dress, the jewelry, the carefully styled hair; all visual cues to Van Zandt's social standing. The Fifth Avenue address of Gurney's studio itself speaks to the location of wealth and status in New York City at this time. These portraits served a social function, reinforcing the sitter's place in the social hierarchy and circulating their image within their social circles. Studying such images helps us understand the visual codes of class and status in 19th-century America. Trade directories, social registers, and genealogical databases can provide further insight into the lives and social networks of both the sitter and the artist.