Haunting and memorable ninth plate daguerreotype of a seated infant in a white gown, being held firmly in place by a partially concealed adult — likely the mother — whose large hand dominates the lower half of the image. The "hidden mother" technique, frequently employed by 1840s-50s photographers, was used to steady restless children during long exposures, often by draping the mother in dark cloth or having her sit just out of frame. Here, the effort to obscure her presence is partially abandoned, resulting in a surreal, almost disembodied hand resting in stark contrast to the small child’s form.

The baby's expression appears skeptical or even squinting, and the crispness of the plate accentuates the unusual intimacy and tension between subject and support. A classic example of the genre, but with an unusually direct visual punch due to the size and prominence of the mother's hand.

Housed in a pressed leather case with a bold, embossed geometric floral design. A strong and unsettling piece of early photographic history.