Untitled (Portrait of a Woman and a Girl)
1855
Medium
Daguerreotype
Dimensions
8.1 × 6.8 cm (3 1/4 × 2 11/16 in.); Open case: 9.2 × 16 × 1 cm (3 5/8 × 6 5/16 × 7/16 in.); Case: 9.2 × 8 × 1.5 cm (3 5/8 × 3 3/16 × 5/8 in.); Plate: 10.8 × 8.3 cm (4 1/4 × 3 1/4 in.)
Classification
portrait
Department
Photography and Media
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
250025
Art Historical Context
Step into the dawn of photography with *Untitled (Portrait of a and a Girl)*, a poignant daguerreotype from 1855 now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's and Media Department. This portrait captures a woman and young girl—likely mother and daughter—in a tender moment, their gazes meeting the viewer through the mirror-like sheen of the 8.1 × 6.8 cm plate. Encased in a protective thermoplastic union case (9.2 × 8 × 1.5 cm when closed), it exemplifies the jewelry-like treasures of early photography, small enough to wear or cherish privately. Created by an unknown maker, this work highlights ...