Untitled (Horse-Drawn Carriage)
1852
Medium
Daguerreotype
Dimensions
8.2 × 10.7 cm (3 1/4 × 4 1/4 in., plate); 11.7 × 18.4 × 1 cm (open case); 11.7 × 9.2 × 1.8 (case)
Classification
portrait
Department
Photography and Media
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
250278
Art Historical Context
Step into the dawn of photography with *Untitled (Horse-Drawn Carriage)*, a captivating daguerreotype from 1852, created by an unknown artist. Measuring just 8.2 × 10.7 cm on its polished silver-plated copper plate, this intimate image is housed in a protective case, typical of the era when daguerreotypes were treasured like fine jewelry. Invented by Louis Daguerre in 1839, this medium produced a single, mirror-like positive image—each one utterly unique, with no negatives for reproduction—capturing light and detail with astonishing clarity. Though classified as a portrait, the title evokes a...
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...