“This volume of "The Philadelphia Photographer" is a time capsule, presenting early albumen silver prints and chronicling the innovations and discussions that shaped photography in America during the 1860s.”
This bound volume, "The Philadelphia Photographer," offers a fascinating glimpse into the nascent world of photography in 1864. It compiles the first two volumes of a significant periodical, featuring a collection of albumen silver prints. These prints, a popular photographic process of the era, would have been highly detailed, capturing a wide range of subjects from portraits to landscapes and technical illustrations. The publication itself served as a vital resource for both amateur and professional photographers, sharing new techniques, artistic discussions, and business insights. As you flip through its pages, imagine the excitement of photographers across America receiving these issues, eager to learn and be inspired. This volume isn't just a collection of images; it’s a tangible record of a pivotal moment in photography's history, showcasing the medium’s rapid evolution and its growing influence on society.
- Artist
- William Henry Brown
- Date
- 1864
- Medium
- Albumen silver prints
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Collection
- Photographs
- Credit line
- Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1938
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Observe the subtle sepia tones characteristic of albumen prints.
Look for the varying subjects captured in the individual photographs.
Notice the binding and typography of the original publication.
Examine the texture and sheen of the photographic paper.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through The Philadelphia Photographer, Vol. I & II, Nos. 1-24 — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
William Henry Brown
1815–1875William Henry Brown, known for his silhouette portraits and early photographic experiments, captured the likenesses of figures like John Quincy Adams.
Further Works by Brown
Silhouette of a Young Man Before an Open Window, Facing Right
1830 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Adaline Peters Brown
1843 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Portrait of a Woman before a Window
1845 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Ada Brown
1847 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Benjamin Daniel Greene
1848 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Choosing of the Arrow
1849 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Filatrice
1850 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Indian Figure in Profile
1851 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond Brown: works from the same years.
Same era · 1840s–1870s
The Backgammon Players
Philip Webb · 1861 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1840s–1870s
Barks Fleeing Before the Storm
Léon-Victor Dupré · 1870 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1840s–1870s
Paris Street; Rainy Day
Kawabata Gyokushō · 1877 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1840s–1870s
Alfred Sisley
Pierre-Auguste Renoir · 1864 · Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection
Same era · 1840s–1870s
Fish (Still Life)
Édouard Manet · 1864 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1840s–1870s
Peasants Bringing Home a Calf Born in the Fields
Jean-François Millet · 1864 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1840s–1870s
A Woman Seated beside a Vase of Flowers (Madame Paul Valpinçon?)
Edgar Degas · 1865 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1840s–1870s
Cliffs on the Sea Coast: Small Beach, Sunrise (Falaise au bord de la mer, vu Petite Plage, soleil levant)
Gustave Courbet · 1865 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1840s–1870s
Mirope Savati Gaye
Mariano Fortuny Marsal · 1865 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1840s–1870s
Mount Washington from the Intervale
William Hart · 1865
Same era · 1840s–1870s
The Banks of the Marne in Winter
Camille Pissarro · 1866 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1840s–1870s
The Beach at Sainte-Adresse
Claude Monet · 1867 · Art Institute of Chicago
