[Thoughtograph, or Psychic Photograph]

Art Historical Context

This intriguing photograph, titled *Thoughtograph, or Psychic Photograph*, was created by Charles Lacey between 1894 and 1898 using albumen and gelatin silver prints. Measuring approximately four by three inches, the small-scale work belongs to a fascinating chapter in photographic history when practitioners sought to capture intangible phenomena such as thoughts or spirits on film. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it exemplifies how early photographers experimented with the medium’s perceived ability to reveal hidden realities. During the late nineteenth century, spiritualism captivated Vi...