[Classical Head in Profile] 1839

"Classical Head in Profile" is an 1839 photograph by French photographer Hippolyte Bayard. The image depicts a plaster cast of a classical bust in profile, a common subject in early photography, reflecting the influence of neoclassicism. Bayard's work, often satirical and self-deprecating, explores the medium's capabilities and limitations. This piece, with its faded tones and subtle details, embodies the nascent quality of early photography, challenging its status as a purely objective medium.