Early Photography: Making Daguerreotypes

Summary

The video describes the invention and spread of the daguerreotype, a groundbreaking photography technique introduced in 1839 by Louis Daguerre. After Daguerre sold the formula to the French government, it became publicly available, sparking immense interest, especially in the United States. The daguerreotype allowed people from all walks of life to afford portraits, though the process was labor-intensive, involving silver-coated copper plates, iodine, bromine, and mercury vapor. By the 1850s, millions of daguerreotypes were produced annually, making them a cultural treasure in American households.

Takeaways

• 📅 On August 19, 1839, the French Academy of Science revealed the daguerreotype process to the public, thanks to Louis Jacques-Mandé Daguerre's agreement with the French government.
• 🎨 Daguerreotype mania quickly spread throughout Europe and became especially popular in America, where people from all walks of life could now afford portrait photography.
• 🔧 Creating a daguerreotype was a labor-intensive process, requiring skill and specialized equipment to prepare the plate and expose the image.
• ⚙️ The daguerreotype plate was made of copper, coated with silver, and had to be polished using a mixture of alcohol, rotten stone, and red powder (rouge) for a reflective surface.
• 🧪 In a darkroom, the polished plate was exposed to iodine and bromine fumes to make it light-sensitive, transforming it into bromoiodide of silver for capturing images.
• 📸 Early exposures could take more than 20 seconds, and special techniques were used to ensure sitters remained still, including headrests and instructions to focus on fixed objects.
• 🌡️ To develop the image, the plate was placed in a mercury vapor chamber, followed by a fixing solution to stabilize the image for viewing in normal light.
• 💎 The final daguerreotype image was treated with chloride of gold, enhancing its durability and aesthetic quality.
• 📦 The finished daguerreotype was assembled in decorative cases made from materials like wood, leather, brass, and glass, with some cases involving industrialized production.
• 📊 By the mid-1850s, around 3 million daguerreotypes were produced annually in the U.S., generating significant revenue, and becoming a common household item.

Q & A

What event took place on Monday afternoon, August 19, 1839?

The French Academy of Science held a special meeting to publicly disclose the formula for making daguerreotypes.

Who invented the daguerreotype technique?

Louis Jacques-Mandé Daguerre invented the daguerreotype technique.

Why did Daguerre sell his formula to the French government?

Daguerre sold his formula to the French government so that it could be made freely available to the public without patent restrictions.

How quickly did the news of the daguerreotype invention spread?

News of the invention spread around the world as quickly as railroads and steamships could travel.

What was the popularity of daguerreotypes in America?

Daguerreotypes were extremely popular in America, where they were seen as a symbol of progress and democracy.

What was the daguerreotype plate made of?

The daguerreotype plate was made of copper faced with silver.

What was the purpose of polishing the daguerreotype plate?

Polishing the plate was necessary to prepare it for exposure and to improve the viewing of its highly reflective surface.

How was the daguerreotype plate made light sensitive?

The plate was made light sensitive by placing it in a sensitizing box with iodine crystals, then exposing it to fumes from iodine and later from bromine.

What was the typical exposure time for a daguerreotype in the early days?

Early exposure times were notoriously long, sometimes taking more than 20 seconds.

How were the subjects advised to minimize movement during the exposure process?

Subjects were advised to place their head on a semi-circle of iron fitted to the back of the chair, fix their eyes on a well-defined object, and keep still.

What was the final step in the daguerreotype process after developing the plate?

The final step was to fix the plate by pouring on it a solution of hyposulfite of soda, which made it safe for viewing in normal light.

How were daguerreotypes preserved and displayed?

Daguerreotypes were assembled for safe-keeping and display by placing the plate into a shallow-hinged case with a decorative mat, preserver, brass components, and a glass cover with taped edges.

What was the economic impact of daguerreotype production in the United States by the mid-1850s?

By the mid-1850s, approximately three million daguerreotypes were produced annually in the United States, representing a retail industry of seven and a half million dollars.