Man and Woman in Front of a Painted Backdrop of a Seaside Resort, circa 1890

Summary

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.

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

Tintype (Photograph)

Date Made

circa 1890

Subject Date

circa 1890

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2019.98.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Iron (Metal)

Technique

Tintype (Process)

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 3.4375 in

Width: 2.375 in

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