robert, 1839

This is a self portrait by Robert Cornelius (1839), and is one of the first photographs of a human being ever produced. How amazing is that? And how dashing is he? I love his tussled hair, his high collar, and that slightly menacing gleam in his eyes. I'm reminded of Mr. Rochester, Mr. Darcy, Adam Ant, and Ray Davies of the Kinks! Never mind the inherently mysterious quality of the photograph itself. It's just so evocative! And to think that this was a man walking around and living a life in 1839, just like we do today. It's like a magical glimpse into the past. In fact, it IS a magical glimpse into the past.

Credit for bringing this to my attention is due to Ms. Tovar and http://mydaguerreotypeboyfriend.tumblr.com/.