Biographies: E.V. Grisen (United States, 1850s)


Figure 1.--The boy here is E.V. Grisen. He was 11 years of age and from Honey Brook, Pennsylvania. His neckwear is a little difficicult to make out. It looks more like a small bow than a stock. It looks to be black. The portrait is undated, but was almost certainly taken in the 1850s.

Many daguerreotypes are unidentified and undated. Unlike CDVs and cabinent cards, the name of the photographer is usually unknown. Here we have a sixth plate daguerreotype which is identified. Written inside the case is "E.V. (Grisen) 11 years of age. Honey Brook, Pa (Pennsylvania). Sister Elizabeth." The boy appears to be wearing a small bowtie and a jacket with lapels and closes with quite a row of buttons. The portrait is undated, but almost certainly was made in the 1850s.

Daguerreotypes

Many daguerreotypes are unidentified and undated. Unlike CDVs and cabinent cards, the name of the photographer is usually unknown. Here we have a sixth plate daguerreotype which is identified. Written inside the case is "E.V. (Grisen) 11 years of age. Honey Brook, Pa (Pennsylvania). Sister Elizabeth."

Identity

The boy here is E.V. Grisen who was 11 years old. We do not know what his first name was, perhaps Edward. He had a sister maned Elizabeth. We have no information about the family at this time.

Location

The case is inscribed "Honey Brook, Pa" (Pennsylvania). It is not clear if that was where the portrait was made or where the family lived. It was not a very large town and is an indication of just how pervasive photographic studios were becoming. I'm not sure just where Honey Brook was located.

Chronology

The portrait is undated, but almost certainly was made in the 1850s.

Clothing

The boy appears to be wearing a small bowtie and a jacket with lapels and closes with quite a row of buttons. The lapels have rather a modern look. I'm not sure just when boys began wearing jackets with lapels, perhaps the 1830s or 40s. The most noticeable aspect of this jacket is all those buttons. There were not yet any accrpted conventions on the use of buttons. Also notice the square cut of the bottom of the jacket. Also of interest is the pants. Notice that this is not a suit in that the jackets and pants contrast rather than match. We have no idea what the colors of the jacket and pants may have been.

Hair Styles

The boy here has relatively short hair, although it is down to his ears on one side and looks to be combed over his ear on another side. Note that his hair was parted on the right side. There do not seem to have been well established conventions about hair parts in the 1850s. Notice a daguerreotype of an American family perhaps a few years later, but at about the same time with different approaches to the hair part.








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Created:5:46 PM 11/4/2004
Last updated: 5:47 PM 11/4/2004