Reading a Portrait
By Buck Zaidel and Ronald S. Coddington Portrait painters had been telling stories for centuries before photography arrived. A painted likeness was never simply a face. Artists placed their subjects
Tag: painted backdrops
Ball’s Wartime Camp Scene
By Buck Zaidel Four cartes de visite produced in Cincinnati during the Civil War years reveal how one of America’s most important 19th century photographers used painted backdrops as visual
Johnson’s Star Gallery, Indianapolis
By Buck Zaidel At first glance, the painted backdrop in a studio portrait can seem little more than theatrical scenery—stylized tents, patriotic military elements, and simple landscapes. Yet, these primitive
A Guide to Exploring Photo Sleuthing and Generative AI
By Kurt Luther Artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be everywhere lately–in the news, on our phones, in schools and workplaces. Civil War photo sleuthing is no exception. AI has been