🖼️American Art – Before 1865 Unit 11 – Early American Photography: Daguerreotype Era

Historical Context

• Daguerreotype process invented by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre in 1839 France
• First commercially available photographic process made photography accessible to the public
• Emerged during a time of rapid industrialization and social change in the United States
• Coincided with the rise of the middle class and increased leisure time for portraiture
• Daguerreotypes became popular in the United States in the 1840s and 1850s
• Served as a means of documenting the expanding American frontier and westward expansion
• Used to capture images of notable figures, landscapes, and historical events (Gold Rush, Mexican-American War)

The Daguerreotype Process

• Daguerreotypes created using a polished silver-plated copper plate sensitized with iodine vapor
• Plate exposed to light in a camera obscura, forming a latent image
• Latent image developed using mercury vapor, which adhered to the exposed areas of the plate
• Image fixed using a solution of sodium thiosulfate or salt to remove remaining light-sensitive silver halides
• Resulting image was a highly detailed, one-of-a-kind photograph on a mirrored surface
  • Image appears positive or negative depending on the viewing angle and lighting
• Exposure times initially ranged from several minutes to over 15 minutes, requiring subjects to remain still
  • Poses were often stiff and formal due to long exposure times
• Later improvements reduced exposure times to a few seconds, allowing for more natural poses

Key Figures and Pioneers

• Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre, inventor of the daguerreotype process
• Robert Cornelius, credited with taking the first photographic self-portrait (1839)
• Samuel F.B. Morse, artist and inventor who introduced the daguerreotype to the United States
• John William Draper, captured the first clear photograph of the moon's surface (1840)
• Albert Sands Southworth and Josiah Johnson Hawes, renowned daguerreotype portrait photographers
  • Operated a successful studio in Boston, known for their artistic skill and technical mastery
• Mathew Brady, famous for his daguerreotype portraits of notable figures (Abraham Lincoln, Edgar Allan Poe)
• Jeremiah Gurney, daguerreotypist known for his portraits and early experimentation with color photography

Artistic and Technical Innovations

• Daguerreotypists experimented with composition, lighting, and posing to create artistic portraits
• Use of props, backdrops, and hand-coloring to enhance the visual appeal of daguerreotypes
• Stereoscopic daguerreotypes created by taking two slightly offset images to produce a 3D effect when viewed through a stereoscope
• Panoramic daguerreotypes made by taking multiple images and joining them together
• Tinted and hand-colored daguerreotypes added color to the monochromatic images
  • Colors applied using fine brushes and pigments, requiring skill and precision
• Daguerreotype studios employed various techniques to reduce exposure times and improve image quality
  • Increased lens apertures, more sensitive plates, and brighter lighting

Social Impact and Cultural Significance

• Daguerreotypes democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider range of people
• Became a popular means of capturing and preserving family memories and likenesses
• Used for post-mortem photography, creating lasting images of deceased loved ones
• Played a role in shaping national identity and documenting the American experience
  • Captured images of Native Americans, enslaved individuals, and immigrant communities
• Daguerreotypes of notable figures and events helped to shape public perception and historical narratives
• Contributed to the growing fascination with celebrity culture and the desire for public recognition
• Influenced fashion and self-presentation as people dressed their best for their daguerreotype portraits

Notable Works and Collections

• "The Daguerreian Era" collection at the Library of Congress, featuring over 700 daguerreotypes
• "Robert Cornelius Self-Portrait" (1839), one of the earliest photographic self-portraits
• Mathew Brady's "Gallery of Illustrious Americans," featuring portraits of notable figures
• "Cincinnati Panorama" (1848), a panoramic daguerreotype of the Cincinnati riverfront
• "The Moon" (1840) by John William Draper, the first clear photograph of the moon's surface
• Southworth and Hawes' "Early Operation Under Ether" (1847), depicting a surgical procedure
• "Daguerreotypes of the California Gold Rush" (1848-1855), documenting the gold rush era

Legacy and Influence on Later Photography

• Daguerreotypes laid the foundation for the development of later photographic processes (calotypes, wet plate collodion)
• Established photography as a means of documentation, artistic expression, and communication
• Influenced the way people perceived themselves and the world around them
• Daguerreotype aesthetics, such as the mirrored surface and tonal range, continued to inspire photographers
• Techniques developed by daguerreotypists, such as composition and lighting, informed later photographic practices
• The daguerreotype's role in shaping public opinion and historical narratives set a precedent for the power of photography
• Collecting and preserving daguerreotypes has become an important aspect of photographic history and scholarship

Preservation and Modern Appreciation

• Daguerreotypes are fragile and require special care to preserve their delicate surfaces
  • Stored in protective cases or frames to prevent damage from handling and environmental factors
• Conservation techniques developed to stabilize and restore deteriorating daguerreotypes
• Digitization efforts undertaken to create high-resolution digital copies for access and preservation
• Contemporary artists and photographers draw inspiration from the daguerreotype process and aesthetics
  • Creating modern daguerreotypes or incorporating daguerreotype-inspired elements in their work
• Exhibitions and publications showcase the artistry and historical significance of daguerreotypes
• Renewed interest in the study and appreciation of daguerreotypes as important artifacts of photographic history
• Daguerreotypes continue to be valued for their unique qualities and as tangible connections to the past