Getty Museum

[Portrait of a blacksmith]

Date

about 1858

Medium

Daguerreotype

Culture

American

Department

Photographs

Institution

Getty Museum

In this pair of daguerreotype portraits, the blacksmith presents his two selves--worker and private person--housed in the same case. In his "occupational" portrait on the left, the awkward way he holds his tools, the blank backdrop, and his faraway, static gaze indicate that he is posing in the photographer's studio rather than in the forge. [In the other portrait][1], the blacksmith appears more relaxed, looking directly at the camera, hatless and with the hint of a smile playing around his mouth. [1]: https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/106S3X

The authoritative record is held by Getty Museum. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.