[Man and Woman with Studio Backdrop]
Not on view
Introduced in 1856 as a low-cost alternative to the daguerreotype and the albumen print, the tintype gained widespread popularity in the United States as an accessible and democratic form of photographic portraiture. This studio work is an exceptionally good example of tintype portraiture: the image is sharp and clear and the subjects have a stolid yet idiosyncratic presence. Because the tintype has been removed from its original vignette overmat, the entire studio setup, including the white paper backdrop and false baseboard molding, is visible behind them.
No image available
