[Two Plasterers in Overalls Leaning on a Rustic Fence]
1870s–80s
![[Two Plasterers in Overalls Leaning on a Rustic Fence] by Unknown](https://images.artheonmuseum.org/met/ph/thumb/two-plasterers-in-overalls-leaning-on-a-rustic-291880.webp)
Medium
Tintype
Dimensions
Image: 9 x 6 cm (3 9/16 x 2 3/8 in.)
Classification
Photographs
Department
Photographs
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Herbert Mitchell, 2008
Accession Number
2015.400.146
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming tintype captures two plasterers in sturdy overalls, casually leaning against a rustic wooden fence, offering a candid glimpse into working-class life in the 1870s–80s. The unknown photographer has immortalized these men—likely American laborers—with a sense of camaraderie and everyday authenticity, their relaxed poses and direct gazes inviting viewers to connect across time. Measuring just 9 x 6 cm, this intimate portrait exemplifies the portable, personal nature of 19th-century photography. ypes, produced on thin sheets of iron coated with collodion, were a revolutionary and af...
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...