Principal Types of Different Human Races: Africa
Photograph
19th century (made), 1862 (made)
19th century (made), 1862 (made)
In the 19th century, photographs were often used to contribute to scientific and anthropological studies. These photographs depict model heads, grouped by geographical origin, to show a typological survey of people from five different continents. They were made under the supervision of the scientist Karl Ernst von Baer, and were shown at the International Exhibition in London in 1862. Today, this form of classifying and comparing people has troubling connotations of racism.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Titles |
|
| Materials and techniques | albumen print |
| Brief description | Photograph by anonymous photographer, 'Racial Types of Africa', 1862, albumen print |
| Physical description | print featuring an assortment of human faces |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Photography Centre 2018-20:
Unknown photographer
Principal Types of Different Human Races: Europe; Oceania; the Americas; Africa; Asia
1862+
In the 19th century, photographs were often used to contribute to scientific and anthropological studies. These photographs depict model heads, grouped by geographical origin, to show a typological survey of people from five different continents. They were made under the supervision of the scientist Karl Ernst von Baer, and were shown at the International Exhibition in London in 1862. Today, this form of classifying and comparing people has troubling connotations of racism.
Albumen prints
Museum nos. 74990 to 74994 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | In the 19th century, photographs were often used to contribute to scientific and anthropological studies. These photographs depict model heads, grouped by geographical origin, to show a typological survey of people from five different continents. They were made under the supervision of the scientist Karl Ernst von Baer, and were shown at the International Exhibition in London in 1862. Today, this form of classifying and comparing people has troubling connotations of racism. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 74993 |
About this object record
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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