About an old photograph

[Micael]

This daguerrotype popped up in my feed, it’s the oldest known photograph of a Swede, taken in 1841.

IMG_3686.jpeg

The subject is as of yet unknown, but based on the uniform he has been narrowed down to have been a major of either the Svea Lifeguards in Stockholm or of the Royal Life Grenadier Regiment in Linköping. I believe the former would be more likely since I suspect that access to a photographer at all in this nascent era of photography would more probably have occured in Stockholm than in a smaller city.

But what makes me find this interesting in particular is the somewhat unruly appearance of his hair. Not unlike mine on a bad day to be honest. It’s peculiar to me that an officer would pose for a photograph with the hair like that though, back then. But then again I admit to not knowing a whole lot about officer fashion in the 1840’s. Does anyone know if this was a thing in general in Europe at the time? That is to say having a bit of a ”wild” look to the hair?

[jemhouston]

Don't know about the style, but he does remind me of




John Wilkes Booth

[Micael]

Don't know about the style, but he does remind me of




John Wilkes Booth

Yeah there is a bit of resemblance there.

[Nathan45]

Booth was a bit of a ladies man. Maybe women liked that unkempt look at the time.

[Micael]

Booth was a bit of a ladies man. Maybe women liked that unkempt look at the time.

Yeah I suppose that could be it, always got something to do with women.

[MikeKozlowski]

FWIW, I've noticed that in very early photos, the women have their hair firmly secured but the men very often appear to have stuck their heads in a supersonic wind tunnel.

Mike

[Micael]

FWIW, I've noticed that in very early photos, the women have their hair firmly secured but the men very often appear to have stuck their heads in a supersonic wind tunnel.

Mike

A trend then, interesting.

[Johnnie Lyle]

FWIW, I've noticed that in very early photos, the women have their hair firmly secured but the men very often appear to have stuck their heads in a supersonic wind tunnel.

Mike

A trend then, interesting.

Or it’s hat hair writ large.

[Craiglxviii]

Long(er) hair for men was definitely a thing, across much of the Victorian era. Along with luxuriant sideburns and moustaches.

[Belushi TD]

Have you seen the daguerreotypes of the US antebellum era?

Its like the males of that era decided that they were going to enter a competition to determine who could grow the most outrageous facial hair. The photos from that time almost invariably rival the winners of the "World Beard Growing Competition".

https://www.worldbeardchampionships.com/

Belushi TD

[Micael]

Have you seen the daguerreotypes of the US antebellum era?

Its like the males of that era decided that they were going to enter a competition to determine who could grow the most outrageous facial hair. The photos from that time almost invariably rival the winners of the "World Beard Growing Competition".

https://www.worldbeardchampionships.com/

Belushi TD

Yes, but then I do believe that there were a lot of intentional shaping with vax and such in those cases. So not necessarily as close to the style as in the initial photograph. One of my favorite tidbits of the time is that there was a sort of mustache ”pyjamas” that many wore over it at night to not damage the styling over night.