[Man] 1843 - 1847

This calotype was made between 1843 and 1848 by the pioneering Scottish photographers David Hill and Robert Adamson. The portrait captures a man in the era's formal attire, seated with a composed demeanor. The collaboration between Hill, an established painter, and Adamson, a skilled technician, was significant. Their backgrounds reflect the societal divides of the time, bringing together artistic vision and technical expertise. Consider the sitter himself – likely a member of the burgeoning middle class, keen to document his status and identity. This image is about more than surface appearances. It embodies the aspirations, anxieties, and social dynamics of Victorian society. The soft focus and tonal range of the calotype process can evoke a sense of intimacy but also distance. How does this photographic encounter reflect the complex negotiation of selfhood and representation during this period?