Art: Sun Picture Historians

Most people are familiar with the camera as a recorder of contemporary history, but are unfamiliar with photographic records of the past. This past is not quite 100 years old. for it was in August 1839 that the Frenchman, Louis Daguerre, first publicly described his discovery. In the U. S. the first daguerreotypes were sometimes called "sun pictures," and in a few years the clarity of U. S. sunlight was being declared the reason for the superiority of Yankee photographers. Published this week is the first attempt at a full history of...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!