The image shows a man in black and white, seated from the waist up. He faces slightly to the left, with legs apart, and rests his right hand on his right knee. The man has short, tightly curled hair and a neutral expression, looking directly at the camera. He wears a long-sleeved shirt, buttoned at the neck, and trousers. A belt is visible around his waist. His left hand grips the edge of his shirt or trousers. There is no visible jewelry. The background is plain, with no discernible objects, providing a simple contrast to the subject. The photograph is bordered by a red line against a slightly discolored backdrop.
Read the visual description

The image shows a man in black and white, seated from the waist up. He faces slightly to the left, with legs apart, and rests his right hand on his right knee. The man has short, tightly curled hair and a neutral expression, looking directly at the camera. He wears a long-sleeved shirt, buttoned at the neck, and trousers. A belt is visible around his waist. His left hand grips the edge of his shirt or trousers. There is no visible jewelry. The background is plain, with no discernible objects, providing a simple contrast to the subject. The photograph is bordered by a red line against a slightly discolored backdrop.

National Gallery of Art · Photograph

Abraham

French & Co.

Date
c. 1863
Medium
albumen silver print (carte-de-visite)
Dimensions
image/sheet: 8.6 × 5.3 cm (3 3/8 × 2 1/16 in.) mount: 10.1 × 6.2 cm (4 × 2 7/16 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Accession number
2023.39.55
Credit line
Ross J. Kelbaugh Collection, Purchased with support from the Ford Foundation
Time span
1851 to 1875
Department
CPH

Subjects and terms

  • portrait
  • American
  • albumen silver print
  • African American
  • Man
  • CDV
Provenance

Ross Kelbaugh, Marriottsville, MD; NGA purchase, 2023.

Inscription

on verso, by Ross Kelbaugh, top right in graphite: AF30B; by unknown hand, upper center in graphite: Blown up at / Fort Hill; center printed in black ink: FRENCH & CO., / SUCCESSORS TO / D. P. BARR, / ARMY PHOTOGRAPHER / (Late Barr & Young,) / PALACE OF ART, / Washington Street, / VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI.; by Ross Kelbaugh, bottom right in graphite: 6.35REHH

NGA object ID 227073. 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.