Secrets of the Dark Chamber: The Art of the American Daguerreotype
Secrets of the Dark Chamber: The Art of the American Daguerreotype is an authoritative exploration of early American photography, co-authored by curator Merry A. Foresta and historian John Wood. Published in 1995 by the Smithsonian Institution Press, this monograph was prepared to accompany a landmark exhibition at the National Museum of American Art.
The volume documents the profound cultural, scientific, and artistic impact of the daguerreotype in America from its introduction in 1839 until the Civil War. It features 152 plates reproducing portraits, landscapes, and scenes of daily life, many of which were published here for the first time. The text provides structural insight into how the medium shaped American identity during critical historical eras, including the westward expansion and the California Gold Rush.
Foresta analyzes the widespread social adoption and popularity of the daguerreotype process, while Wood evaluates the era’s literary and intellectual response to the new technology. These curatorial essays are supplemented by primary source documentation, including nineteenth-century newspaper articles, diary entries, and journal excerpts that record firsthand perspectives on the emerging photographic art.
Bibliographic Details
- Authors: Merry A. Foresta and John Wood
- Publisher: Smithsonian Institution Press
- Publication Year: 1995
- Pages: 323 pages
- Illustrations: 152 plates
- ISBN-10: 093731126X
- ISBN-13: 9780937311264
- Dimensions: 9″ H x 7″ W
- Item Weight: 2.15 pounds
VF in decorative hardcovers. [P1]
$ 90.00
