Study of a Head
Medium
Albumen silver print
Classification
Photographs
Department
Photographs
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1963
Accession Number
63.606.1.33
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Study of a Head**, created by Oscar Gustav Rejlander in 1857, is a captivating albumen silver print that exemplifies the early artistry of photography. Rejlander, a Swedish-born pioneer often called the "Father of Art Photography," worked in England during the Victorian era, pushing the medium beyond mere documentation into expressive realms. This intimate portrait study focuses on a man's head, highlighting subtle textures of skin, hair, and expression through meticulous detail. The albumen silver process, using egg whites to coat paper for exceptional clarity and warm tones, was the gold ...