[Two Young Men in Straw Hats, One Seated in the Other's Lap]
1870s–80s
![[Two Young Men in Straw Hats, One Seated in the Other's Lap] by Unknown](https://images.artheonmuseum.org/met/ph/thumb/two-young-men-in-straw-hats-one-seated-in-the-291890.webp)
Medium
Tintype
Dimensions
Image: 8.9 x 6.4 cm (3 1/2 x 2 1/2 in.)
Classification
Photographs
Department
Photographs
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Herbert Mitchell, 2008
Accession Number
2015.400.156
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the intimate tintype portrait *Two Young Men in Straw Hats, One Seated in Other's Lap*, two young men share a playful, close pose that captures a moment of camaraderie or affection. Dating to the 1870s–80s, this small image (just 3½ × 2½ inches) exemplifies the tintype process—a direct positive photograph on a thin iron sheet, prized for its affordability, durability, and portability during the post-Civil War era. Popular at fairs, studios, and itinerant photographers, tintypes democratized portraiture, allowing everyday people to preserve personal memories without the expense of larger for...
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...