Mr. W.S. Orr and Peter Fraser
David Octavius Hill
British, 1802–1870
Robert Adamson
British, 1821–1848
c. 1841-48
An early salted-paper photograph by David Octavius Hill that calmly stages two seated men absorbed in a book, aiming to record mood and character rather than a merely exact likeness.
The image strikes you with its warm, sepia tones and soft, painterly focus—heads inclined together and hands resting on the open book create a quiet, intimate moment rather than a sharply detailed portrait.
Made in the 1840s as photographers adapted painterly approaches, this work helped show that photographic processes could convey atmosphere and psychological presence, advancing photography as an expressive art form.
Medium
Salted paper print
Dimensions
5 1/2 × 8 1/8" (14.0 × 20.6 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Gift of Warner Communications, Inc.
Accession
649.1977
Palette
Art Terms
Exhibitions
