William James by Vistus Balch

What it is

This is an albumen silver print photograph of William James as a young man, taken by the photographer Vistus Balch around 1860. It is held by the National Portrait Gallery.

Why it matters

Taken decades before James became famous as a philosopher and psychologist, this image shows him as a young man, long before his major works were written. Early photographs like this help historians trace how public figures looked and changed over their lifetimes.

Look closer

• What details of clothing and pose tell you about the style of portrait photography of this period?
• Why might a photographer's studio address be printed directly on the photograph?
• How does this young image compare with photographs of James taken later in his life?