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Daguerreotype Photography: The Birth of the First Public Photographic Process

Daguerreotype Photography: The Birth of the First Public Photographic Process The daguerreotype was the first photographic process made available to the general public, dominating the vis...

Daguerreotype Photography: The Birth of the First Public Photographic Process

The daguerreotype was the first photographic process made available to the general public, dominating the visual landscape from the 1830s through the 1850s. More than just a technique, a "daguerreotype" refers to the unique, highly detailed image produced by this method. While it revolutionized how humanity captured reality, it was eventually superseded by 1856 by more affordable and accessible methods, such as the ambrotype.

Invented by Louis Daguerre and introduced to the world in 1839, the process created a mirror-like image on a silver-plated sheet of copper. Though it fell out of commercial favor for over a century, a modern revival has seen a small number of contemporary artists return to the medium for its distinct aesthetic and historical depth.

Daguerreotype of Louis Daguerre in 1844 by Jean-Baptiste Sabatier-Blot
Daguerreotype of Louis Daguerre in 1844 by Jean-Baptiste Sabatier-Blot

Key Facts

Still life with plaster casts, made by Daguerre in 1837, the earliest reliably dated daguerreotype[note 3]
Still life with plaster casts, made by Daguerre in 1837, the earliest reliably dated daguerreotype[note 3]
  • Inventor: Louis Daguerre, building upon the earlier work of Nicéphore Niépce.
  • Public Debut: Officially introduced worldwide in 1839.
  • Primary Material: A silver-plated copper sheet.
  • Peak Usage: Widely used between the 1830s and 1850s.
  • Successor: Replaced largely by the collodion process (ambrotypes) by 1856.

The Evolution of the Process

Daguerreotype possibly made in 1837 by Daguerre. The subject is believed to be Constant Huet, who worked at the Natural History Museum, where Daguerre took pictures in 1837.[41] If correct, this would be the oldest surviving portrait photograph of a person.[42]
Daguerreotype possibly made in 1837 by Daguerre. The subject is believed to be Constant Huet, who worked at the Natural History Museum, where Daguerre took pictures in 1837.[41] If correct, this would be the oldest surviving portrait photograph of a person.[42]

From Heliography to Daguerreotype

The road to the daguerreotype began with Nicéphore Niépce, who is credited with taking the first permanent photograph around 1826 or 1827 using a process called heliography (sun writing), which utilized asphalt on a plate. While Louis Daguerre is often the name most associated with the birth of photography, he collaborated with Niépce, and it was later revealed that Niépce's foundational role had been downplayed during the initial public announcements in 1839.

19th-century printed reproduction of a still life believed to be a c. 1832 Niépce physautotype (glass original accidentally destroyed c. 1900)[14]
19th-century printed reproduction of a still life believed to be a c. 1832 Niépce physautotype (glass original accidentally destroyed c. 1900)[14]

The Role of the Camera Obscura

The daguerreotype relied on the camera obscura (dark chamber), an optical device that projects an image of its surroundings onto a screen or surface. This ancient tool provided the necessary framework for Daguerre to project images onto light-sensitive plates.

Camera obscura, from a manuscript of military designs. 17th century, possibly Italian
Camera obscura, from a manuscript of military designs. 17th century, possibly Italian

Technical Execution and Production

The earliest reliably dated photograph of people, View of the Boulevard du Temple was taken by Daguerre one spring morning in 1837 or 1838 from the window of the Diorama, where he lived and worked. It bears the caption huit heures du matin (translation: eight o'clock in the morning).[note 4]
The earliest reliably dated photograph of people, View of the Boulevard du Temple was taken by Daguerre one spring morning in 1837 or 1838 from the window of the Diorama, where he lived and worked. It bears the caption huit heures du matin (translation: eight o'clock in the morning).[note 4]

Creating the Image

The production of a daguerreotype was a meticulous chemical process involving several critical stages:

  1. Polishing: The silver-plated copper sheet was polished to a mirror finish.
  2. Sensitization: The plate was exposed to iodine vapors to make it light-sensitive.
  3. Exposure: The plate was placed in the camera and exposed to light.
  4. Development: The latent image was brought out using mercury vapor.
  5. Fixing: The image was made permanent (fixed) so it would no longer react to light.

Graphic representation of the steps involved in making a daguerreotype
Graphic representation of the steps involved in making a daguerreotype

Equipment and Innovation

Early cameras, such as those built by La Maison Susse Frères or Charles Chevalier, were essential for the process. Because early exposure times were incredibly long—sometimes lasting several minutes—portrait photographers used specialized headrests to keep subjects perfectly still.

Daguerreotype camera built by La Maison Susse Frères in 1839, with a lens by Charles Chevalier
Daguerreotype camera built by La Maison Susse Frères in 1839, with a lens by Charles Chevalier

Device to hold heads still during the long exposure time required to make a daguerreotype portrait
Device to hold heads still during the long exposure time required to make a daguerreotype portrait

Impact and Applications

1840–1841 camerae obscurae and plates for daguerreotype called "Grand Photographe" produced by Charles Chevalier (Musée des Arts et Métiers)
1840–1841 camerae obscurae and plates for daguerreotype called "Grand Photographe" produced by Charles Chevalier (Musée des Arts et Métiers)

The Rise of Portraiture

The daguerreotype democratized portraiture, allowing people to possess accurate likenesses of themselves and loved ones. Notable early examples include the first authenticated image of Abraham Lincoln in 1846. However, the process was physically demanding; subjects had to remain motionless for extended periods to avoid blurring.

The earliest authenticated image of Abraham Lincoln, taken soon after his election to Congress in 1846, attributed to Nicholas H. Shepard
The earliest authenticated image of Abraham Lincoln, taken soon after his election to Congress in 1846, attributed to Nicholas H. Shepard

Global Reach and Scientific Use

The technology spread rapidly beyond France. In the United States, figures like Samuel Morse experimented with the medium. It was also applied to astronomy and the documentation of nature, including the first known photograph of a living animal (excluding humans) taken in Rome between April and July 1842.

The earliest known photograph of a living animal (excluding humans). This daguerreotype was taken by French photographer Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey while visiting Rome between April and July 1842.[63]
The earliest known photograph of a living animal (excluding humans). This daguerreotype was taken by French photographer Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey while visiting Rome between April and July 1842.[63]

Preservation and Display

Because the silver surface was fragile and prone to tarnishing, daguerreotypes were typically sealed in airtight frames or mounted in decorative cases to protect the image from the air.

Daguerreotype portrait of a daguerreotypist displaying daguerreotypes and cases pictured in an airtight frame, 1845
Daguerreotype portrait of a daguerreotypist displaying daguerreotypes and cases pictured in an airtight frame, 1845

Summary of Early Photographic Milestones

A daguerreotype photograph of the Nobel House in Turku from 1842
A daguerreotype photograph of the Nobel House in Turku from 1842
Key Milestones in Early Photography
Year Event/Achievement Key Figure
c. 1826-1827 First permanent photograph (Heliography) Nicéphore Niépce
1837 Earliest reliably dated daguerreotype (Still life) Louis Daguerre
1837-1838 Earliest reliably dated photo of people (Boulevard du Temple) Louis Daguerre
1839 Public worldwide introduction of the daguerreotype Louis Daguerre / Arago
1842 First photograph of a living animal (non-human) Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey
1856 Daguerreotype largely superseded by newer processes N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

Daguerreotype mounted on a box, in the National Archives of Estonia
Daguerreotype mounted on a box, in the National Archives of Estonia
‘View of the Predikherenlei and Predikherenbrug’ depicts the first photographic record of Ghent and in all probability Belgium. It dates back to October 1839, when optician François Braga arrived in Ghent with the daguerreotype camera. Together with his friend, seller of prints and engravings Joseph Pelizzaro, he took the picture on the second floor of judge Philippe Van de Velde's residence on the Ajuinlei. Of the four original plates they made, two plates are in the holdings of STAM – Ghent City Museum, while the two others are lost.
‘View of the Predikherenlei and Predikherenbrug’ depicts the first photographic record of Ghent and in all probability Belgium. It dates back to October 1839, when optician François Braga arrived in Ghent with the daguerreotype camera. Together with his friend, seller of prints and engravings Joseph Pelizzaro, he took the picture on the second floor of judge Philippe Van de Velde's residence on the Ajuinlei. Of the four original plates they made, two plates are in the holdings of STAM – Ghent City Museum, while the two others are lost.
Advertisement for a traveling daguerreotype photographer, with location left blank
Advertisement for a traveling daguerreotype photographer, with location left blank

What is the difference between a daguerreotype and a modern photo?

A daguerreotype is a unique image on a silver-plated copper sheet with no negative, meaning it cannot be reproduced. Modern photography typically uses negatives or digital sensors to create multiple copies of a single image.

Why did people have to sit so still for daguerreotypes?

Early photographic plates had low light sensitivity, requiring long exposure times. If a subject moved during these minutes, the resulting image would be blurred. This led to the invention of head-holding devices to ensure stability.

Who actually invented photography?

While Louis Daguerre publicized the first commercially viable process, Nicéphore Niépce is credited with the first permanent photograph using heliography in the 1820s. Both played critical roles in the medium's birth.

Why did the daguerreotype become obsolete?

The process was expensive, time-consuming, and produced a single image that was difficult to view due to its reflective surface. Newer processes like the ambrotype and collodion process were cheaper and allowed for easier reproduction.

Is the daguerreotype still used today?

Yes, though not commercially. A small community of artistic photographers has revived the process in the late 20th and 21st centuries to explore its unique aesthetic and historical significance.

References

  1. /dəˈɡɛər(i.)əˌtaɪp, -(i.)oʊ-/ ⓘ[1]
  2. Iodine was discovered by Courtois in 1811, bromine by Löwig in 1825 and Balard in 1826 independently, and chlorine by Scheele in 1774.
  3. This well-known image, now badly effaced by an attempt to clean it, is in the collection of the Société française de photographie. That institution's inventory of works by or about Daguerre Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine (item 1) gives it the title Intérieur d'un cabinet de curiosité (Interior of a cabinet of curiosities), describes it as a whole-plate daguerreotype in a contemporary frame, states that it was acquired in 1897, came from the collection of de Cailleux (presumably, the late Alphonse de Cailleux, deputy director and then general director of the Louvre from 1836 to 1848), is annotated "Daguerre 1837" below, and on the back, in Daguerre's handwriting, bears the dedication "Epreuve ayant servi à constater la découverte du Daguerréotype, offerte à Monsieur de Cailleux par son [très] dévoué serviteur" [signed "Daguerre"] (Proof having served to verify the discovery of Daguerreotype, offered to Monsieur de Cailleux by his very devoted servant Daguerre). There is apparently no other documentary basis which might support statements found in many sources that it is the "first" or "first successful" or "first completely processed" daguerreotype, or that it was presented to de Cailleux at the Louvre in 1837 rather than at an unknown location and date after the 1839 unveiling of the process. According to the 1884 catalogue of one French museum, a framed set of three plates presented by Daguerre to François Arago bore an identically worded dedication. They were among the plates put on display to a French government body in July 1839 when it was deciding on the award of a pension to Daguerre in exchange for the still-secret details of his process.
  4. Though it shows the busy Boulevard du Temple, the long exposure time (about ten or twelve minutes) meant that moving traffic cannot be seen; however, the bootblack and his customer at lower left remained still long enough to be distinctly visible. The building signage at the upper left shows that the image is laterally (left-right) reversed, as were most daguerreotypes. Daguerre presented this daguerreotype together with two others: a still-life and a view from the same window labelled midi (noon) to King Ludwig I of Bavaria (The Munich Triptych) in order to publicise his invention. All three daguerreotypes were destroyed by cleaning in 1974 but they are preserved in reproduction.[48]
  5. Talbot's early "sensitive paper" or "photogenic drawing" process, which required very long camera exposures, should not be confused with the much more practical Calotype or Talbotype process, invented in 1840 and introduced in 1841.

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