"Cookie" Miller 1843 - 1847

This calotype was made in Edinburgh, Scotland, around 1843-1848 by the pioneering photography duo of David Hill and Robert Adamson. "Cookie" Miller, as he was nicknamed, worked as a baker's roundsman. He delivered baked goods from door to door. This is a fascinating image, not just as an early example of photography, but because it points to the democratization of portraiture. Before photography, only the wealthy could afford to have their likeness captured. Now, thanks to Hill and Adamson's innovative use of the calotype process, ordinary people like "Cookie" Miller could be immortalized. Consider the social implications of this shift. How did photography change the way people saw themselves and others? How did it affect the art world? These are questions that art historians grapple with when studying images like this. We examine census records, newspaper articles, and other primary sources to gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural context in which the artwork was made. This helps us understand its significance, and ultimately, its meaning.