Downey Double Exposure
CDV-format albumen print, double exposure view of a bearded man with checkerboard, bust, and other objects, perhaps the photographer, by Downey & Sons circa 1880. Image imprinted front "J. Downey & Sons Copyright South Shields" and on reverse "J. Downey & Sons Photographers, 17 & 19 Eldon Street, South Shields..."
There is generally some liklihood that double exposure images may represent the photographer himself -- as seen in other images in this sale. In this carte-de-visite, the bearded man is unusually posed in a rather bare setting that reveals many elements of the functional photographic studio. When examined closely, the objects on checkerboard with which he "plays checkers" against himself might be small lenses rather than checkers. In any case, the general impression of this image is that of being 'behind the scenes" at a photographic studio.
Images and text copyright © 2014 by Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs