Untitled (Portrait of a Mother and Daughter)
Artist
Unknown
CultureAmerican
Dateca. 1850s
MediumDaguerreotype
Dimensions3 1/2 × 3 in. (8.9 × 7.6 cm)
Credit LineGift of Christina and George Kemp
Object number2016.45.36
Not on view
DescriptionFull-length portrait of a mother and daughter, with one subject removed, most likely by abrasion to the plate. The case is leather and the design features a bouquet of flowers.Label TextUntitled (Portrait of a Mother and Daughter), ca. 1850s Daguerreotype Gift of Christina and George Kemp 2016.45.36 A photograph is forever, except when it’s not. When the daguerreotype was invented, these early photographs were celebrated for their ability to preserve an image indefinitely. In fact, their surfaces are quite delicate and can be damaged easily, which is why they were sealed in cases with glass fronts. Although the story behind this particular image remains a mystery, it is tempting to guess why one figure was wiped away vigorously (notice the scratches). ProvenanceGeorge Kemp; gift to the Chrysler Museum of Art, December 2016.Exhibition History"Photographs Take Time: Pictures from the Chrysler Collection," Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, April 6 - August 26, 2018.
