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Primary sourcePhotograph1864

Sojourner Truth, 1864 Carte de Visite

American 19th Century · 1864

A carte-de-visite photograph of Sojourner Truth seated with a book, captioned with her own slogan 'I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance.'

This wartime photograph was sold by Truth herself to fund her activism and recruitment work for Black soldiers.

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Sepia carte-de-visite portrait of an older Black woman seated at a table, wearing a white bonnet, wire-rimmed glasses, a dark dress and a white fringed shawl, with a bouquet of flowers in a vase and a book beside her. Red printed caption reads: I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance. Sojourner Truth.
American 19th Century, carte de visite of Sojourner Truth, 1864. National Gallery of Art.

About this source

What it is

This is a small studio photograph known as a carte de visite, made in 1864 and now held by the National Gallery of Art. It shows an older Black woman, Sojourner Truth, seated at a table with a bouquet and a book, wearing a white bonnet, glasses, and a shawl. A printed caption reads 'I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance. Sojourner Truth.'

Why it matters

Truth sold photographs like this one to earn money and support her activism during the Civil War, when she was recruiting Black soldiers and had met President Lincoln. The image reveals how she controlled her own public image, presenting herself with dignity as a respectable, literate woman.

Look closer

  • Why might Truth have chosen to be shown with a book and flowers?
  • What does the caption 'I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance' suggest about her view of photography?
  • How does this image compare to other common depictions of Black Americans at the time?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Sojourner Truth on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Ain't I a Woman?

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Narrative of Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth · 1850

Sepia carte de visite photograph of an older Black woman seated at a table, wearing a white bonnet, dark dress, and white fringed shawl, with a flower vase at right. Printed caption below reads 'I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance' and 'SOJOURNER TRUTH'.Photograph

Primary source

I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance

1864

Scan of a marbled endpaper or cover paper with swirling patterns of tan, brown, red and black ink, with dark binding edge on the left side. No text is visible.Book

Secondary source

Fanaticism; Its Source and Influence, Illustrated by the Simple Narrative of Isabella, in the Case of Matthias

Gilbert Vale · 1835

Sepia carte de visite photograph of an older Black woman seated beside a table with a flower vase, wearing a white bonnet, glasses, a white shawl, and a dark dress, holding knitting or sewing. Printed caption below reads: I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance. SOJOURNER TRUTH.Photograph

Primary source

Sojourner Truth, seated with knitting

1864

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