[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 Victorian society, and photographers like Lacey explored “psychic” imagery to bridge science and the supernatural. These thoughtographs were often produced in darkened rooms or through prolonged exposure, reflecting both technical ingenuity and cultural curiosity about the unseen. The dual printing processes—albumen for its rich tonal quality and gelatin silver for sharper detail—highlight the transitional techniques of the era. Today, the work invites viewers to consider photography’s enduring power to shape belief and imagination. As part of the Gilman Collection, it preserves a moment when the camera was viewed not only as a documentary tool but also as a vessel for mystery and wonder.

About the Artist

Charles Lacey

**Charles Lacey** was a British photographer active in the late 19th century, best known for his experiments with thoughtography, also called psychic photography. Working primarily between 1894 and 1898, he produced a series of small albumen and gelatin silver prints, approximately 4 by 3 inches, that he claimed captured projected mental images or psychic impressions directly onto photographic pla...