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The image depicts a seated man with his legs crossed on a wooden chair. He has a focused expression, prominent facial features, and short hair. The man wears a cap, a tattered jacket, a worn-out shirt, and pants with tears. The chair is simple, and the background is plain with light-colored fabric.
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The image depicts a seated man with his legs crossed on a wooden chair. He has a focused expression, prominent facial features, and short hair. The man wears a cap, a tattered jacket, a worn-out shirt, and pants with tears. The chair is simple, and the background is plain with light-colored fabric.

National Gallery of Art · Photograph

"Regular Contraband"

Attributed to McPherson & Oliver

Date
c. 1863
Medium
albumen silver print (carte-de-visite)
Dimensions
image/sheet: 8.9 × 5.5 cm (3 1/2 × 2 3/16 in.) mount: 10.1 × 6.1 cm (4 × 2 3/8 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Accession number
2018.95.3
Credit line
Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund
Time span
1851 to 1875
Department
CPH
Original NGA record

Subjects and terms

  • portrait
  • American
  • albumen silver print
  • Chair
  • Violence
  • Studio
  • African American
  • Man
  • CDV
Provenance

Private collection, MI; (Thomas Harris, New York); NGA purchase, 2018.

Inscription

on verso, by unknown hand, center in graphite perpendicular: Regular Contraband

NGA object ID 216281. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.