[Soldier Posed with Rifle and Bayonette]

Unknown

1880s–90s

[Soldier Posed with Rifle and Bayonette] by Unknown

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Classification

Photographs

Department

Photographs

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Gift of Mrs. Robert Ingersoll Aitken, 1951

Accession Number

51.611.481

Tags

SoldiersFirearmsMen

Art Historical Context

In the late 19th century, this striking gelatin silver print captures a soldier proudly posed with his rifle and bayonet, embodying the era's fascination with military valor and discipline. Titled *Soldier Posed with Rifle and Bayonette*, the anonymous photograph from the 1880s–90s reflects a time when professional armies were expanding amid global conflicts, imperialism, and national pride. Such posed portraits were common in studios, allowing soldiers—often from working-class backgrounds—to commemorate their service and project strength to family and community. The medium, gelatin silver pr...

About the Artist

Unknown

The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...

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