Bret Harte (1836-1902) 1869 - 1874

This is a stereoscopic photograph of Bret Harte, an American short story writer and poet, captured by photographer Jeremiah Gurney in the 1870s. Gurney, a well-known photographer in New York City, produced this detailed portrait showing Harte seated, looking thoughtfully off to the side. The stereoscopic format, popular in the 19th century, uses two slightly different images to create the illusion of depth when viewed through a stereoscope. This portrait exemplifies the technical skill of Gurney and captures the essence of the literary figure, Bret Harte, who was known for his tales of the American West.