[Unknown Subject] 1860s

Editor: Here we have a photograph from the 1860s by Saint-Edme, currently housed in the Met. The romantic feel and sepia tones give it a wistful, almost melancholy air. What historical factors were at play when this work was made? Curator: The carte-de-visite, like this one, exploded in popularity during the 1860s. They became these accessible, affordable objects. Consider how photography was changing from an elite practice to a mass medium. How does this shift impact the status of portraiture, previously reserved for the wealthy? Editor: I never thought about it that way, so having your portrait taken was suddenly accessible. How did the upper class respond? Curator: Good question. Suddenly everyone can have a portrait! The traditional art world and aristocratic circles wrestled with this new form. Photography was seen by some as a challenge to painting’s status as the premier representational art. Consider the social anxiety embedded in this seemingly simple image. Does knowing this new socio-political context change the way you see this picture? Editor: Definitely. The photograph, which looked rather melancholy now seems self-assertive, a product of cultural democratization! Photography changed everything for not just the rich, but average people like the sitter and me, too. Curator: Exactly. Looking at the public role of art reveals its layered meanings. Editor: I never would have reached that conclusion without considering photography's context during the 1860s. It is fascinating!