Who painted Portrait of a Young Boy?

Portrait of a Young Boy was painted by Louis-Adolphe Humbert de Molard in 1848.

Where can I see Portrait of a Young Boy?

Portrait of a Young Boy is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Portrait of a Young Boy?

Portrait of a Young Boy is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Portrait of a Young Boy

Louis-Adolphe Humbert de Molard , 1848

Portrait of a Young Boy is a photography by the Romanticist artist Louis-Adolphe Humbert de Molard. It dates from 1848 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This salted paper print, created from a glass-plate negative sensitized with albumen, depicts a young boy in a formal, stiff pose against a plain background.

Subject & Meaning

The boy's direct, glaring gaze and rigid posture, necessitated by the long exposure time, confer an unexpected gravity and maturity upon the youthful subject.

Technique & Style

The image's unique aesthetic is a direct result of pioneering photographic techniques: glass-plate negatives with albumen sensitization, characteristic of early experiments in paper print processes.

History & Provenance

Produced in the mid-19th century by Baron Humbert de Molard, an early adopter of photographic innovations in France, this work reflects his transitional practice from daguerreotypes to paper prints.

Context

The work's formal qualities, while technically driven, evoke comparisons with artistic traditions like chiaroscuro, highlighting the intersection of photographic innovation and established visual aesthetics.