5423290_050.jpg < 5000+ TRUSTED >

The chemical transition of silver-plated copper into a mirror-like image.

You can view the full record and high-resolution details of this artwork through The Met's Open Access Collection. 5423290_050.jpg

The intricate lace, fabric textures, and styling of children's clothing in the 1850s. The chemical transition of silver-plated copper into a

The image is a prime example of mid-19th-century portraiture. During this era, daguerreotypes were the first commercially successful photographic process. Because the images were monochromatic and often appeared somewhat "ghostly" due to long exposure times, artists frequently applied delicate hand-tinting to the cheeks, clothing, and jewelry of the subjects to provide a more lifelike and "healthy" appearance. Visual Analysis 5423290_050.jpg

The emergence of the "middle class" portrait, as photography made capturing one's likeness more accessible than painted commissions.