Primary sourcePhotographc. 1907
William James by Alice Boughton
Alice Boughton · c. 1907
A platinum print portrait of William James as an older man, taken in his lifetime.
This photograph depicts William James in his later years, close to the end of his life.
About this source
What it is
This is a platinum print photograph of William James taken by Alice Boughton around 1907, a few years before his death. It is held by the National Portrait Gallery.
Why it matters
By 1907 James was a well-known philosopher and psychologist, famous for his work on pragmatism. This portrait shows him in his later years, and captures the appearance of a thinker near the end of his career.
Look closer
- What does the formal pose and dress suggest about how James wanted to be seen?
- Why might a portrait photographer sign her work on the print itself?
- How does this photograph compare to the earlier Balch portrait from decades before?
This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of William James on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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