Figure 1.-- This unidentified cased Dag shows two children presumably siblings. We believe the portrait was probably taken in the 1840s, but we are not at all sure. The image it not a good one, but we can make out the children's clothes. The children look to be about 6-10 years old. The girl wears a lonng, patterned dress, low, open neckline although short of the shoulders, and defined waist. Notice the pantalettes. The boy wears a button-on patterned blouse and long pants. Dresses for girls were simple and suits for boys were much less common in the ante-bellum period than they became after the Civil War. We think that the growing afflence of industrializing America was a major factor.

The 1840s is the first decade for which we have photographic images. The problem is that most Dags are undated. And unlike Ambros, it is very difficult to destinguish between 1840s and 50s Dags. We have found some Dags that we believe were taken in the 1840s, although we can not be sure. Here we welcome reader input. Dresses appear to be the primary garments worn by girls. We see fewer girls wearing blouses and skirts. Of course this may mean that girls dressed up for the portrait. We note low necklines, short sleeves, defined waistlines, and long lengths even for younger girls. Pantalettes commonly covered legs below the hemline. Some dresses had short sleeves, something we do not see on boys' blouses and shirtsfor decades. This seems rather strange and we do not know just how to attribute it. The low necklines is something we see in the first half of the 19th century, but not commonly in the second half. In addition to fashion, we believe that in an era before ready made and when many dresses were sewn at home, that it was much easier to sew a dress without a collar. We do not yet have enough verifiable images that we cam date to the 1840s to go into much detail. Dresses for girls were simple and suits for boys were much less common in the ante-bellum period than they became after the Civil War. We think that the growing afflence of industrializing America and ready-made clothing was a major factor. We have much more information in the dreess bodicies than the skirts. This is because stnding imges pf children like the ene here was not the standard pose (figure 1). Much more common was a sitting pose by a fabric draped table. Thus we odten to do to see much of the girls' skirt and boys' pants.

Dating Issues

The 1840s is the first decade for which we have photographic images. The problem is that most Dags are undated. And unlike Ambros, it is very difficult to destinguish between 1840s and 50s Dags--the two decades in which mny Dgs werectken. We have found some Dags that we believe were taken in the 1840s, although we can not be sure. Virtually all of the photograpohs taken un the 1840s are Dags. We do not see other major types like Ambros and tintypes until the 1850s. The major problem is identifying the 1840s Dags. The gact that there asre some dated pintings is helpful to help date te fashions. A good example ia a painting of the Stock children (1845). The problenm with this is that therv are so few such images, the very proiblem photograohic images are helping to solve. Here we welcome reader input.

Social-class Bias

The in these early Daguerreotypes are the well-to-do, not necearily wealthy, but individual in comfortable circumstances. Photography was expensive and thus primasrily we see the well off. The Daguerreotype process was the most expensive of all the various photographic types. It involved a polished copper plate rather inexpensice class or paper. That said, there were far more Dags taken in merica than in any other country, perhaps all other countries put together. Thus the photigraohic coverage is wider than in any other country and this at a very early point in the developoment of the American economy.

Prevlence

Elements

We note low necklines, short sleeves, defined waistlines, and long lengths even for younger girls. Low dress necklines were especilly common for younger children. Pantalettes commonly covered legs below the hemline. Some dresses had short sleeves, something we do not see on boys' blouses and shirts. This seems rather strange and we do not know just how to attribute it. The low necklines is something we see in the first half of the 19th century, but not commonly in the second half. We have much more information in the dress bodicies than the skirts. This is because standing imges of children like the one here was not the standard pose for Dagerreotype portraits (figure 1). Much more common was a sitting pose by a fabric draped table. This of course is because of the low speed of Dag plates. The subjkect had ti remain moyionless, easuer to do when sitting down. Thus we often do notsee much of the girls' skirts and boys' pants.

Industrialization

In addition to fashion, we believe that in an era before ready made and when many dresses were sewn at home, that it was much easier to sew a dress without a collar. We do not yet have enough verifiable images that we cam date to the 1840s to go into much detail. Dresses for girls were simple and suits for boys were much less common in the ante-bellum period than they became after the Civil War. We think that the growing afflence of industrializing America and ready-made clothing was a major factor.

Created: 1:38 AM 4/23/2022br> Last updated: 10:47 AM 3/2/2024