Portrait of a Child c. 1850

This anonymous daguerreotype, "Portrait of a Child," c. 1850, captures a young girl in a relaxed, almost languid pose. The child is lying on a surface, likely a garden bench, with a straw hat at her side, and a backdrop of potted plants and classical architectural elements. The daguerreotype's small size and delicate detail speak to the early days of photographic portraiture and the desire to document precious moments in life. The image's intimate scale and focus on the child's gentle expression underscore the developing interest in capturing everyday moments and individual personalities during the mid-19th century.