Untitled 1840 - 1852

Jeremiah Gurney created this promotional banknote for his Daguerrian Gallery in New York. The composition is dominated by a symmetrical arrangement of images and text. On either side, allegorical figures flank the frame, representing justice and perhaps motherhood, symbols of societal values that Gurney aimed to capture in his portraits. Central to the note, the business name ‘Gurney’s Premium’ anchors the design, printed in bold font. This work skillfully uses visual rhetoric to merge art with commerce. The layout mimics currency, suggesting value and trustworthiness. The repeated number ‘100’ acts as a signifier of quality, subtly reinforcing Gurney’s promise of satisfaction. The interplay of image and text creates a semiotic dialogue, linking Gurney’s photographic services with notions of value and permanence, critical for capturing a moment in time. The symmetrical design and the classic imagery point to a desire to legitimize photography as an art form.