Horological occupational cabinet card portrait of a professional watchmaker, photographed by C.F. Garrison in Rolfe, Iowa. The craftsman sits behind a workbench meticulously arranged with horological instruments, including a jeweler’s lathe, watch parts, magnifiers, bell jars and two small clocks as examples of his work. In one hand he holds an open pocket watch, while the other grips a tool poised to make a precise adjustment, offering a moment of captured concentration and expertise.

The composition highlights both the artisan and his tools, elevating the image beyond simple portraiture to a document of skilled labor and technical precision. Such occupational portraits were often intended to promote a tradesman’s services or to honor the dignity of their work. The backdrop and table covering lend a formal studio elegance, while the presence of tools like the fusee engine lathe and time-measuring instruments underscores the complexity of the profession.

Images of American watchmakers at work are scarce, particularly with this level of clarity and compositional care. The portrait captures the pride and discipline of a rural artisan during a time when accurate timekeeping was both a technical and social necessity. Few occupational cabinet cards so thoroughly convey the tools, demeanor, and professional identity of the sitter.