Who Took the First Selfie? Robert Cornelius, Photographer Extraordinaire!
Forget Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, history reveals a surprising truth: the selfie has a much longer history than we thought. A captivating daguerreotype photograph taken in 1839 by Philadelphia photographer Robert Cornelius stands as a testament to this claim.
The Earliest Known Selfie?
This head-and-shoulders portrait, featuring Cornelius gazing directly at the camera with a disheveled appearance, is considered by many to be the world’s first selfie. Captured just months after Louis J.M. Daguerre’s groundbreaking announcement of the daguerreotype process, Cornelius’ photograph is a remarkable feat considering the lengthy exposure times required by the technology at the time.
The image on the left is genuine and was captured in 1839, per historical records. Furthermore, the photograph is considered the “earliest extant photographic portrait in the world,” according to the Library of Congress, which acquired the photo in 1996.
Cornelius took his head-and-shoulders self-portrait using a box fitted with a lens from an opera glass.
The exact date remains uncertain, but historical records point to October or November 1839.
The Daguerreotype Process and its Limitations
The Library of Congress notes that Cornelius only photographed subjects for a mere three years. This makes his legacy all the more remarkable, as he left behind a lasting impact with this early example of the daguerreotype process, a complex and time-consuming technique. It required an exposure time of
between three to fifteen minutes, making self-portraits a significant undertaking. Cornelius, however, managed to capture this remarkable image, which is inscribed on the back with the words "The first light Picture ever taken. 1839."
“In the portrait, Cornelius stands slightly off-center with hair askew, in the yard behind his family’s lamp and chandelier store, peering uncertainly into the camera. Early daguerreotypy required a long exposure time, ranging from three to fifteen minutes, making the process nearly impractical for portraiture.
Cornelius’ Legacy
The Public Domain Review considers Cornelius’ portrait the first "selfie" ever taken. They highlight how Cornelius, a self-taught photographer, set up his camera in the backyard of his family’s lamp and chandelier store in Philadelphia. He removed the lens cap, walked into frame, and sat still for a minute before re-covering the lens to capture the image.
“Robert Cornelius’ Self-Portrait: The First Ever ‘Selfie’ (1839). The Public Domain Review
Today, Cornelius’ selfie remains a testament to early photographic innovation and the ingenuity of this early photographer who captured history in a way no one else had before him.
Do you think this is the first selfie? Let us know in the comments!
Let us know what you think!
Robert Cornelius’ Self-Portrait: The First Ever ‘Selfie’ (1839). The Public Domain Review
