Dollfus
Pierre Petit
French, 1832–1909
c. 1865
A mid-19th-century albumen silver print from a glass negative in which the photographer seeks to reveal the sitter’s character through a relaxed pose, attentive lighting, and rich tonal gradations.
What strikes you is the turned profile and swept hair set against a softly modeled face, the heavy coat casually draped over the shoulders and a finger resting at ease—all rendered in warm sepia tones and velvety shadows that make the image feel intimate and immediate.
This portrait exemplifies how 1860s studio photography used albumen printing and expressive posing to move beyond mere likeness toward psychological portraiture, helping to establish photography as a medium for artistic as well as documentary expression.
Medium
Albumen silver print from a glass negative
Dimensions
oval 9 13/16 × 7 1/2" (25 × 19 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of Paul F. Walter
Accession
366.1981
Palette
Art Terms
Exhibitions
