Artwork Page for Portrait of a Young Woman

Details / Information for Portrait of a Young Woman

Portrait of a Young Woman

c. 1855–60

America

Medium
Tintype
Measurements
Overall: 4.5 cm (1 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
The Julius L. Greenfield Photography Acquisition Fund 2022.12
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

During the first decades of photography, portraits far outnumbered every other type of image.

Description

It seemed a miracle that anyone could afford to have an accurate record of their own likeness or those of their loved ones. This portrait is an excellent example of the hundreds of thousands of portraits produced by commercial photographers in mid-nineteenth-century America. Small scale yet housed in an elaborately decorated thermoplastic case, it was intended to be carried by its owner or displayed on parlor tables or knickknack shelves.
A circular tintype depicts a young woman with light skin tone facing us. Her dark hair is parted in the center, and she wears a dark, patterned dress with a brooch at the neckline. An embossed gold-toned mat frames her within a dark green, scalloped case. To our left, the interior lid reveals concentric circles and a small label with handwritten numbers. The case rests against a light gray background.

Portrait of a Young Woman

c. 1855–60

America

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork