Guthrie 1843 - 1847

This calotype portrait, titled "Guthrie," was taken by the Scottish photography duo Hill and Adamson between 1843 and 1847. The image, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, captures a man standing with a cane, leaning against a chair with a book on its seat. The use of natural lighting and the subject's informal posture suggest an early example of the artistic potential of photography, capturing the fleeting moment and individuality of the sitter. Hill and Adamson’s calotype process revolutionized portraiture in the 19th century, allowing them to create detailed and lifelike images.