[Soldier Posed with Rifle and Bayonette]
1880s–90s
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
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...