[Two Men Embracing, One Seated in the Other's Lap]
1880s–90s
![[Two Men Embracing, One Seated in the Other's Lap] by Unknown](https://images.artheonmuseum.org/met/ph/thumb/two-men-embracing-one-seated-in-the-others-lap-291898.webp)
Medium
Tintype with applied color
Dimensions
Image: 9.9 x 6.5 cm (3 7/8 x 2 9/16 in.), irregular
Classification
Photographs
Department
Photographs
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Herbert Mitchell, 2008
Accession Number
2015.400.164
Tags
Art Historical Context
This intimate tintype photograph, titled *[Two Men Embracing, One Seated in the Other Lap]*, captures a tender moment two men in a close, affectionate pose—one perched playfully in the other's lap. Dating to the 1880s–90s, the small, irregularly shaped image measures just 9.9 x 6.5 cm, making it a cherished personal keepsake rather than a formal studio portrait. Produced on a thin iron plate coated with collodion, tintypes were a popular, affordable medium in the late 19th century, everyday people to preserve memories without the expense of larger formats. Hand-applied color enhances the emot...
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...