Maison de thé
1870s
Medium
Albumen silver print from glass negative with applied color
Dimensions
23.7 x 19.2 cm (9 5/16 x 7 9/16 in.)
Classification
Photographs
Department
Photographs
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gilman Collection, Museum Purchase, 2005
Accession Number
2005.100.505.1 (47a)
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Maison de thé**, a captivating albumen silver print from the 0s, offers a vivid glimpse into everyday street life through the lens of an unknown photographer. This hand-colored photograph, measuring 23.7 x 19.2 cm, depicts a bustling tea house amid urban buildings and streets, populated by men going about their day. Captured from a glass negative—a cutting-edge technique of the era—the image showcases the architectural charm of the tea house, a social hub in many cultures, inviting viewers to imagine the aroma of brewing tea and lively conversations within. The medium's significance lies in...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...