Untitled (Portrait of a Seated Man Holding a Map) 1847

"Untitled (Portrait of a Seated Man Holding a Map)" is a daguerreotype portrait by Marcus Aurelius Root, an American photographer working in the mid-19th century. The portrait, which is part of the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, depicts a seated man, possibly Root himself, holding a map or chart, likely referencing a geographical subject or a particular travel destination. The use of daguerreotype, a popular photographic process of the time, showcases the detailed realism of the image, capturing the man's attire, facial features, and the texture of the map in sharp detail.