A young man holding a banjo occupies the center of this full-length tintype, likely dating to the 1870s or 1880s based on the format, props, and style of dress. He is seated in a rustic twig chair, one of a pair visible in the composition, and faces the camera directly with a composed, serious expression. No photographer's imprint is visible, and the subject remains unidentified.

He wears a dark wool suit with a matching vest and a bow tie, with a small flower pinned to his lapel. His left hand cradles the circular drum head of the open-back banjo while his right hand grips the neck near the peghead. A flat-brimmed hat rests on the floor beside his leather shoes, and a painted backdrop featuring tropical foliage fills the upper left of the frame.

The twig furniture and potted palm backdrop were popular studio props during the 1870s and 1880s, often used to suggest a naturalistic or rustic aesthetic. The open-back banjo style visible here was the standard American instrument before the resonator back became common in the early twentieth century.