[Young Woman Holding a Flower] 1837 - 1847

Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey's daguerreotype, "[Young Woman Holding a Flower]" (1837-1847), captures a young woman holding a flower, her gaze directed at the viewer. The image, which exhibits the characteristic sharpness and detail of the daguerreotype process, showcases the early development of photography as a medium for portraiture. The intricate details of the woman's dress and the delicate bloom she holds highlight the emerging artistic potential of this new technology. This work, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a significant example of early photographic portraiture and an insightful window into the evolving world of 19th-century visual culture.