[Three Portraits]

This intriguing piece, "[Three Portraits]," by Noriega, an artist whose work is extensively represented in the Met Museum's collection, offers a glimpse into a pivotal moment in Mexican history. Created in 1867, the same year as many of Noriega's other albumen silver prints in the Met's holdings (including images of Emperor Maximilian's imprisonment and execution site), this photograph is part of a series documenting the final days of the Second Mexican Empire. While the identities of the individuals in these three oval portraits aren't explicitly stated, their inclusion in Noriega's broader photographic project suggests a connection to the historical events of that year. The albumen silver print process, common in the mid-19th century, allowed for sharp detail and rich tonal range, evident even in these small, intimate portraits. Noriega's body of work, as seen through the Met's collection, focuses heavily on historical documentation, capturing places and figures associated with Emperor Maximilian's tragic end. This piece, though seemingly simple, is a fragment of a larger visual narrative, inviting viewers to consider the personal stories intertwined with grand historical shifts.