Untitled (Portrait of a Seated Woman) 1858

This daguerreotype, "Untitled (Portrait of a Seated Woman)," was created by Otis Hubbard Cooley in 1858. The image depicts a woman seated in a chair, wearing a shawl, and looking directly at the viewer. The daguerreotype is a testament to the early days of photography, capturing a moment in time with a stillness that reflects the era's sensibility. The ornate gold frame adds to the formal nature of the portrait, typical of 19th-century portraiture, and highlights the subject's importance. This work, housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, provides an intimate glimpse into the lives of everyday individuals during the mid-19th century.