Anonymous American Photographer

sixth-plate daguerreotype, sealed, cased, circa 1850

This daguerreotype is impressive for, among other things, the natural ease of the subject within a very deliberate composition.  While the hatter stands straight and proud, there is no rigidity in his pose. The daguerreotypist has carefully chosen to show not just a single hat to be symbolic of the man's profession, but has instead created a cascade of hats on the table to the left in addition to the hat the man holds in his hand and that which he wears on his head.