Europe: 19th century

Early photography

Photography has always been a controversial medium—is it an art or a science?

1826 - c. 1870

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Julia Margaret Cameron, Mrs. Herbert Duckworth

Cameron’s evocative portrait captures her young niece… before she became the mother of a literary giant.

Lady Clementina Hawarden, Clementina and Florence Elizabeth Maude

This pioneering woman used the new medium of photography to add dramatic flair to her domestic life.

Louis Daguerre, Paris Boulevard

Daguerre’s groundbreaking technique turned Paris into a ghost town.

Early Photography: Niépce, Talbot and Muybridge

Photography emerged as a marvel of the modern world, but its early years were marked by technological obstacles.

Selected Contributors

Leila Anne Harris

Dr. Rebecca Jeffrey Easby