[Alexander Johnston] 1860s

This is an undated albumen silver print of Alexander Johnston by John and Charles Watkins. By the middle of the 19th century, photographic portraits had become more accessible to the middle classes. The Watkins brothers operated a successful photography studio in London from the 1860s through the 1880s. The ambrotype and tintype had already gained popularity for making photographic portraiture affordable for a wider audience. But it was the carte-de-visite format, a small paper photograph mounted on a card, that truly democratized portraiture. The carte-de-visite became a hugely popular commodity in Europe and the United States. These photographs functioned much like calling cards and were collected in albums. Alexander Johnston, likely a man of some social standing, chose to be represented in a manner befitting his status. What can be revealed through close examination and archival research? Historians consider the intersection of technological innovation and evolving social practices.