Miss Patricia Morris 1843 - 1847

Hill and Adamson made this calotype portrait of Miss Patricia Morris in Scotland between 1843 and 1848. It's one of many that they made of middle-class and upper-class figures during photography's earliest years. In its soft focus and sepia tones, the photograph recalls portrait paintings, the dominant form of depicting people at this time. But what’s really interesting is how Hill and Adamson position themselves in relation to the artistic establishment. They were running a commercial studio and trying to make a living. But they were also interested in the aesthetic possibilities of the new medium. Notice how Miss Morris isn't facing the camera directly. She's posed in what might have been considered a more ‘natural’ or ‘candid’ pose. She’s looking off to the side, as though lost in thought. For me, this photograph points to the way that new visual technologies can change social expectations. To understand it better, we might consult publications from the period, or the business records of photography studios. By doing so, we can better understand the changing place of art in society.