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Why were cartes-de-visite portraits so popular in the 1860s?
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History of photography
Child with Striped Dress (Younger Raab Child), autochrome photograph by Alfred Stieglitz, 1907; in the Art Institute of Chicago.
The carte-de-visite became immensely popular in the 1860s primarily because it made portraiture affordable and accessible to a wider public. Patented by André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri in 1854, this format utilized a multi-lensed camera to capture eight different poses on a single negative. This efficient production method significantly lowered costs compared to earlier forms of photography, allowing the lower middle class to participate in portraiture.12
Several factors contributed to their widespread appeal:
- Social Utility: As the name suggests, these small photographic portraits were designed to be used as calling cards, integrating personal imagery into established social customs.12
- Collectibility: The practice of collecting and exchanging cards of royalty and celebrities turned them into a fashionable trend. They became common gifts for birthdays and holidays, often displayed in specialized albums in Victorian parlours.12
- Cultural Impact: During the American Civil War, the demand for these portraits surged, with photographers like Mathew B. Brady producing them in large quantities for the public.1