Artwork
Portrait of a Young Man
Portrait of a Young Man is a photography by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This small, oval photograph from mid-19th century America depicts a young man in a dark suit with a serious yet calm expression.
About this work
Overview
This small, oval photograph from mid-19th century America depicts a young man in a dark suit with a serious yet calm expression. Notably, it is an early example of commercial photography made accessible to the general population.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, a young man with neatly combed hair, conveys sobriety through his direct gaze and somber attire, reflecting the formal norms of portrait photography at the time.
Technique & Style
The photograph's modest scale contrasts with its elaborate thermoplastic case, mimicking carved wood through molding, highlighting the blend of affordability and aesthetic aspiration in early commercial photography.
History & Provenance
Produced during a period when photography became increasingly democratized, this portrait represents one of hundreds of thousands of similar works by commercial photographers catering to the masses in mid-19th century America.
Context
Designed for personal carriage or domestic display (on parlor tables or shelves), the piece embodies the era's desire for portable, affordable likenesses of oneself or loved ones.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
