Getty Museum

[Portrait of Two Metalworkers]

Date

1855

Medium

Daguerreotype

Culture

American

Department

Photographs

Institution

Getty Museum

> Two blacksmiths wearing work shirts with sleeves rolled up, hats, and aprons appear diligently focused on their task. Probably photographed in their own shop since the heavy anvil would not have been moved to a studio to serve as a prop, this portrait differs from the occupational portrait made in a studio, where the sitter is seen merely holding the tools of his or her trade. But even these blacksmiths were posed rather than photographed while they truly worked. > > The anvil, tongs, and hammers were easily held in position, so they are defined with precise clarity, but the slight blurring of the subjects' heads indicates that they were unable to stand completely still for the entire exposure. Spontaneity was difficult to achieve in early photography because exposure times were so long. > > This daguerreotype is housed in a Mascher magnifying case, a case that came with its own monocular magnifying viewer so that the men and their tools could be scrutinized in closer detail. J. F. Mascher of Philadelphia patented his magnifying case in 1853 and again in 1855. getty.edu, Interpretive Content Department, 2008; with additions by Carolyn Peter, J. Paul Getty Museum, Department of Photographs, 2019.

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