Sixth Plate

HIS WERE DROOPING! I always wonder which came first, the recalcitrant child whose hands just wouldn’t remain motionless while he reluctantly posed for his archivally sealed sixth plate or those sad sack posies handed to him by a desperate daguerreotypist ready to pull out his hair since the parents were getting ready to whisk him away from the camera. Was the battered bouquet an original prop? Regardless, we are looking at one unhappy tiny kid. Don’t you love that added color to even further draw our eyes to the arrangement. Gray mid-tones are most prevalent. His white pantalettes and areas of darkness complete the range of contrast. Two black specks are under his eye and there are a few brown dots. The white marks near the tarnish on the left are dried water droplets. A complete leather case completes his presentation.