Artist Painting a Self-Portrait, 1890-1910

THF278448 / Artist Painting a Self-Portrait, 1890-1910
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Artifact Overview

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 Details

Artifact

Tintype (Photograph)

Date Made

1890-1910

Subject Date

1890-1910

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

2019.0.25.6

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Iron (Metal)

Technique

Tintype (Process)
Hand coloring

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 3.875 in
Width: 2.875 in

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  • Artist Painting a Self-Portrait, 1890-1910
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    Tintype photographs could be produced in a matter of minutes at a price most people could afford. Introduced in 1856, tintypes democratized photography--capturing unique glimpses of how everyday Americans looked and lived. Many people posed wearing their best outfits. Others sat for the photographer in their work clothes, holding objects that reflected their occupations. Work gave meaning to people's lives--it was part of one’s personal identity.