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The Music Teacher and His Wife, c. 1850s. Creator: Unidentified Photographer
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The Music Teacher and His Wife, c. 1850s. Creator: Unidentified Photographer
The Music Teacher and His Wife, c. 1850s. Although portrait sittings were directed by the photographer, sitters had some input in shaping their identities by choosing their pose, clothing, possessions, and sometimes backdrop. People came to the studio dressed in their finest outfits, and they often brought objects to represent their interests or occupation, such as the tuning fork held by the music teacher. Hand painting could draw attention to luxury items, as in Young Woman with Pantalettes, where her jewelry is dabbed with gold paint and the lacy cuffs of her pantalettes are enhanced with white paint. Most people had only a few photographs made during their lifetimes; therefore, they were often used to mark rites of passage such as graduation and marriage
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Media ID 19648371
© Heritage Art/Heritage Images
Daguerreotype Unidentified Photographer Quarter Plate
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The Music Teacher and His Wife, c. 1850s - A Glimpse into Identity and Aspirations
EDITORS COMMENTS
. This print titled "The Music Teacher and His Wife" offers a fascinating insight into the lives of its subjects during the mid-19th century in America. The unidentified photographer skillfully captures not only their physical appearance but also their aspirations and interests. During this era, portrait sittings were carefully directed by photographers, yet sitters had some agency in shaping their identities through choices such as pose, clothing, possessions, and even backdrops. In this particular image, we see the music teacher holding a tuning fork—a symbol of his profession—highlighting his passion for music. Both subjects are dressed impeccably in their finest attire; they exude an air of elegance and sophistication. It was customary for individuals to bring objects that represented their interests or occupation to these sessions—an opportunity to showcase one's identity through material possessions. Hand painting techniques were often employed to draw attention to luxurious items or enhance certain details within the photograph. This technique is evident in another work from Heritage Art called "Young Woman with Pantalettes" where gold paint accents her jewelry while white paint enhances the delicate lace cuffs of her pantalettes. Photographs held great significance during this time period since most people only had a few taken throughout their lifetimes. These precious images often marked important milestones like graduations or marriages—a way to commemorate significant moments forever captured on film. "The Music Teacher and His
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