It's hard to believe it now: when photography first was invented, in the Nineteenth Century, "everyday" people might sit for one or two portraits in a lifetime. Perhaps at marriage. Or to commemorate graduation from college (for those few who went to college). Sometimes being sent-off to war precipitated a last-minute picture. Today, for better or worse, people might shoot one or two dozen selfies in a single day.
The first known photograph—a permanently captured image on a metal plate—was taken in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes, Eastern France, in 1826. It shows a rooftop scene from an upper-story window. Because the exposure time was so long (8 hours or more), both sides of the subject buildings are illuminated—as the sun moved across the sky during the duration of the exposure.
In 1839, the Daguerreotype was invented. The image was still conveyed upon a metal plate, however the exposure and development time were now reduced to minutes, not hours. One could sit for a picture and walk out of the studio shorty, photo in-hand.
In 1841, the "negative" was created, which allowed multiples of an image to be reproduced photographically.
At the time the photo, shown above, was shot (in the 1860's), a sustainable consumer photo industry had already been established. The previous long time requirements had been reduced, as had the cost. A middle class (or lower-middle class) person might be able to afford such an indulgence—especially for an important occasion. Such images (presented in fancy cases) might cost $1.00 or less (about $25 in today's money). The camera exposure could take up to 30 seconds, depending upon the amount of natural light in the studio. Photographers would attempt to flood their studios with sunlight (though nature always had a say in the matter). Subjects might sit (or stand) with their head resting in a headrest—which helped them to remain still for the duration of the exposure. Once the photo had been shot, it was just a handful of minutes to develop the photo and install it in the fancy "union case."
Such fancy cases originally were made of leather or papier-mâché. But making these was labor intensive and expensive. In the 1850's, Samuel Peck developed a manufacturing technique in which sawdust and shellac could be compressed—quickly and cheaply—in ornate moulds. Often, the exteriors of these cases were deeply-embossed with lavish graphic or botanical decoration. They usually had a fancy golden border (which surrounded the photo) and the cases were most often brown or black (though rare colors can sometimes be found). These cases also helped to protect the image, both from scratching and from damaging light. Peck called them "Union Cases" because of the "union" of ingredients—not as a reference to the Civil War Union. Click on the photo above to learn more about this handsome photo and case.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.