Art Institute of Chicago

Untitled (Eight Atalanta Crewmen)

Artist unknown

Date

July 30, 1856

Medium

Daguerreotype

Culture

United States

Department

Photography and Media

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Because of its crisp, faithful detail and its relatively low price, the daguerreotype—a unique print on a metal plate—was one of the most popular forms of portraiture in the 19th century. Although a single figure was the most common subject, groups might also visit the photographer’s studio to commemorate a special occasion. This daguerreotype seems to celebrate a group of rowers from the well-regarded Atalanta Boat Club of New York; the names of the eight crewmen are inscribed inside the case, along with the date of the sitting. Most daguerreotype images would laterally reverse the subject, resulting in words reading backwards; in this case, the operator must have used a prism or mirror to reverse that effect, as the name of the club can be clearly read across the bands of their hats.

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