William Lloyd Garrison engraving from an 1879 newspaper

What it is

This is an engraved portrait of William Lloyd Garrison that appeared in an 1879 newspaper. It shows an elderly bald man with glasses, a white collar and bow tie. He sits in an ornate armchair, holds a folded paper in his lap, and is turned slightly to the right against a dark background. The facts do not name the engraver, and the image is a printed reproduction rather than an original portrait.

Why it matters

Newspapers in 1879 often printed portraits of people who had just died. The curator's note says this engraving shows how the press memorialized Garrison at his death. Students can compare it with photographs of him to see how an image could be shaped for a newspaper audience.

Look closer

• What details of the chair, the paper and the pose might have been added or emphasized by the engraver?
• Why might a newspaper choose to print a portrait like this at the time of a death?
• How does an engraving differ from a photograph as evidence of what a person looked like?