Three Men Lounging in Front of a Painted Backdrop, circa 1895

Summary

Tintypes, the popular "instant photographs" of the 19th century, could be produced in a matter of minutes at a price most people could afford. Tintypes democratized photography. Beginning in the mid-1850s, they gave more people than ever before the chance to have a real likeness of themselves--capturing unique glimpses of how everyday Americans looked and lived.

Tintypes, the popular "instant photographs" of the 19th century, could be produced in a matter of minutes at a price most people could afford. Tintypes democratized photography. Beginning in the mid-1850s, they gave more people than ever before the chance to have a real likeness of themselves--capturing unique glimpses of how everyday Americans looked and lived.

Artifact

Tintype (Photograph)

Date Made

circa 1895

Subject Date

circa 1895

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

98.95.3.15

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Iron (Metal)
Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Tintype (Process)
Printing (Process)

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 3.125 in

Width: 4 in

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