Untitled (Portrait of Wild Animal Tamer Jacob Driesbach with Jaguar)

The Langenheim brothers immigrated as young men to the United States, where they became two of the earliest successful commercial photographers in the country. They established a portrait studio in Philadelphia, distinguishing themselves with hand-painted daguerreotypes—polished silver plates sensitized to light with mercury vapor—and other innovations in photographic technology, such as the use of glass negatives and stereoscopy. This daguerreotype portrays “Herr” Jacob Driesbach, who performed with wild animals in Europe and America. With eyes rolled up and mouth agape, Driesbach makes it seem as if his leopard companion has dealt a fatal blow.