[Man] 1843 - 1847

This portrait was made between 1843 and 1848 by Hill and Adamson, using the calotype process. It's a very early form of photography, using paper coated with silver iodide. Now, the special thing about the calotype is how it renders an image. Unlike later photographic processes, it’s not about perfect clarity. Instead, the texture of the paper support, and the long exposure times, create a soft, almost painterly effect. Look closely, and you’ll see that this gives the man a kind of quiet dignity. He is holding a cane, seated, and you can see his contemplative expression. But beyond this, we should consider what it meant to have your picture taken at this time. This was a new, laborious, and expensive process. Photography was a tool primarily of the middle and upper classes, and here, that social reality is baked right into the image. Considering these factors helps us appreciate the photograph not just as a picture, but as a cultural artifact.