Portrait of a Young Boy, c. 1848. Creator: Louis-Adolphe Humbert de Molard (French, 1800-1874)

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Portrait of a Young Boy, c. 1848. Creator: Louis-Adolphe Humbert de Molard (French, 1800-1874)

Portrait of a Young Boy, c. 1848. Baron Humbert de Molard, a wealthy amateur, began taking daguerreotypes of his friends, family, and servants in 1843. The following year he became one of the earliest Frenchmen to experiment with paper print processes. This salted paper print was made from a glass-plate negative sensitized with albumen. The stiff pose, placement of the subjects hands, and glaring gaze are likely due to the long exposure time required by those materials. They imbue a young boy with the gravity and formality of a much older man

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Media ID 19638785

© Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Louis Adolphe Humbert De Molard 1800 1874

EDITORS COMMENTS
This portrait, titled "Portrait of a Young Boy, c. 1848" captures the essence of a bygone era through the lens of Louis-Adolphe Humbert de Molard. As a wealthy amateur photographer in France during the mid-19th century, Baron Humbert de Molard delved into the art of daguerreotypes and paper print processes to immortalize his loved ones. In this particular salted paper print, created from an albumen-sensitized glass-plate negative, we witness the young boy's transformation into a figure far beyond his years. The stiff posture and deliberate placement of his hands reveal the challenges posed by long exposure times required with these early photographic techniques. Despite his tender age, he exudes an air of gravity and formality typically associated with much older individuals. The intense gaze emanating from those youthful eyes draws us further into this mesmerizing image. It is as if time has momentarily stood still for this young boy, allowing us to glimpse both innocence and maturity coexisting within him. Preserved at The Cleveland Museum of Art as part of their rich heritage collection, this photograph serves as a testament to Baron Humbert de Molard's pioneering spirit in pushing the boundaries of photography during its nascent stages. Through Heritage Art/Heritage Images' reproduction efforts, we can now appreciate not only the technical achievements but also the artistic vision captured within this remarkable piece from 19th-century France.

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