History of Portrait Photography Techniques

Carte-de-Visite became popular among the middle class and the ruling kings and queens starting around 1854.

The size of a Carte-de-Visite is 4 x 3 inches.

Tintypes were lightweight and ideal for travelers and civil war soldiers.

Matthew Brody's photographic gallery opened in NYC around 1861.

Antoine Francois Claudet believed that in portrait photography, success was the rule and failure was the exception.

Carte-de-Visite and Celebrity Portraits

Carte-de-Visite portraits became popular in the mid-1800s
They were small, pocket-sized paper portraits
They served as calling cards and were used for official documents like licenses, passports, and entry tickets
Their affordability made them accessible to the middle class and royalty
The ease of production made them a popular form of self-expression and capturing likeness

Tintype (1856)

A unique photographic process utilizing a thin iron plate
The plate was coated with collodion, a substance made from dissolving guncotton in alcohol and ether
A thin layer of black varnish covered the plate for a finished look
Tintypes were lightweight and inexpensive, making them popular for travelers and soldiers during the Civil War
The process involved a chemical conversion of potassium iodide to potassium bromide

Studio Techniques

Blue glass bottles were used in portrait studios to soften harsh light
Matthew Brody established a photographic gallery in New York City in 1861

Early Challenges in Portrait Photography

Antoine Francois Claudet, a pioneer in photography, acknowledged the difficulty of portrait photography in the early days
He believed that "failure was the rule and success was the exception"

Explore the evolution of portrait photography from the mid-1800s to the unique processes of tintypes. Dive into the significance of carte-de-visite portraits and the innovative studio techniques that shaped how we capture likeness today. This quiz will test your knowledge of these historical photographic methods.