William James photograph, 1910

What it is

This is a black-and-white portrait photograph of an older man with receding hair and a full gray-white beard. He wears a dark suit, white collar and dark tie against a dark background, and looks toward the viewer. The photographer is unknown. The image is dated 1910 and is listed as a photograph of William James.

Why it matters

Portraits like this one show what James looked like late in his life, when he was writing his major philosophical works. Photographs of this kind were widely used to present famous thinkers to the public.

Look closer

• What details of clothing and posture does the photographer show, and what might they suggest?
• Why might a portrait be chosen to represent a thinker?
• What can a single photograph not tell you about James's life or work?