Early Photography Archive

Name: Early Photography Archive
Creator: Analog Photo Today
License: Open-access data is CC0; public-domain images are served via IIIF links without redistribution.

The Early Photography Archive presents public-domain photographs from the Art Institute of Chicago photography and media collection, with artist, process and dating context, drawn from the CC0 API and refreshed monthly. Every record links the museum page and adds technique family, origin region and era labels from our pipeline.

Records: 4,070
Last changed: 09/02/2026
Update schedule: 27 5 2 * * UTC
Coverage: 03/03/2026–09/02/2026
Method: Methodology

Photograph	Artist	Date	Technique	Origin	On view
Marble Cañon, one of the gorges of the Colorado here, 1.200 feet deep. The steep cliff is gray limestone and the slope below a brilliant red sandstone, No. 13 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian"	William H. Bell (American, 1830–1910) commissioned by George Wheeler for the War Department, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
View in the Grand Cañon of the Colorado River, No. 12 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian"	William H. Bell (American, 1830–1910) commissioned by George Wheeler for the War Department, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Cañon of Kanab Wash, Colorado River, Looking South	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Cañon of Kanab Wash, Colorado River, Looking North	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Cañon of Kanab Wash, Colorado River, Looking South	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Colorado River, Mouth of Kanab Wash, Looking West	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Grand Canon, Colorado River, Near Paria Creek, Looking West	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Grand Cañon, Colorado River, Near Paria Creek, Looking West	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Perched Rock, Rocker Creek, Arizona	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Rain Sculpture, Salt Creek Cañon, Utah	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Grand Cañon of the Colorado River, Mouth of Kanab Wash, Looking West	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Grand Cañon of the Colorado River, Mouth of Kanab Wash, Looking East	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Grand Cañon of the Colorado River, Mouth of Kanab Wash, Looking West	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Looking South into the Grand Cañon, Colorado River, Sheavwitz Crossing	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Grand Cañon, Colorado River, Near Paria Creek, Looking East	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Limestone Walls Kanab Wash, Colorado River	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Cañon of Kanab Wash, Colorado River, Looking South	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Rain Sculpture, Salt Creek Canon, Utah	William H. Bell American, 1830–1910	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Moss Avenue, Fort George, Florida	Artist unknown American, 19th century	1872	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Gustave Aimard	Etienne Carjat French, 1828–1906	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Eugène Clémenceau	Etienne Carjat French, 1828–1906	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Balaustion	Julia Margaret Cameron English, 1815–1879	October 1871	printing_dyeing photography	Europe	false
Hector Giacomelli (French painter, illustrator, and printmaker, 1822-1904)	Ferdinand J. Mulnier French, born 1825, active 1860–1890	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Victorien Sardou (French playwright, 1831-1908)	Ferdinand J. Mulnier French, born 1825, active 1860–1890	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Joseph Méry	Artist unknown French	c. 1876/84	woodwork	Europe	false
Gambetta	Etienne Carjat French, 1828–1906	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
André Gill (French caricaturist, 1840-1885)	Étienne Carjat French, 1828–1906	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Halévy	Etienne Carjat French, 1828–1906	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
My Beloved Son	Julia Margaret Cameron English, 1815–1879	December 1871	printing_dyeing photography	Europe	false
Aldophe Belot	Ferdinand J. Mulnier French, active 1860–1890	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Juliette Lamber	Ferdinand J. Mulnier French, active 1860–1890	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Daniel Vierge (French illustrator, born Spain, 1851-1904)	Ferdinand J. Mulnier French, born 1825, active 1860–1890	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
F.V. Raspail	E. Neurdein French, 19th century	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Émile Erckmann (French writer, 1822-1899) and Alexandre Chatrian (French writer, 1826-1890)	Pierre Petit French, 1832–1909	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Charles Lecoq	Pierre Petit French, 1832–1909	c. 1876/84	woodwork	Europe	false
Émile Littré (French lexicographer and philosopher, 1801-1881)	Pierre Petit French, 1832–1909	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Alfred Naquet (French chemist and politician, 1834-1916)	Pierre Petit French, 1832–1909	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Louis Blanc	Carjat et Cie (Studio) French, 19th century	c. 1876/77	woodwork	Europe	false
Théodore de Banville	Tourtin Tourtin French, 19th century	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Pie IX	Tuminello Tuminello Italian, 1824–1897	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Mac-Mahon	Goupil et Cie French, active after 1855	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Michelet	Goupil et Cie French, active after 1855	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
François Coppée (French poet and novelist, 1842-1908)	Nadar (Gaspard Félix Tournachon) French, 1820–1910	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
F. de Lesseps	Nadar (Gaspard Félix Tournachon) French, 1820–1910	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Sarcey	Franck probably French, 19th century	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Émile Deshayes de Marère (French politician, 1828-1918)	Étienne Carjat French, 1828–1906	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Colonel Denfert-Rochereau	Carjat et Cie (Studio) French, 19th century	c. 1876/78	woodwork	Europe	false
Alexandre Dumas (French novelist and playwright, 1802-1870)	Étienne Carjat French, 1828–1906	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Pierre Dupont	Etienne Carjat French, 1828–1906	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false
Louis-Léon-César Faidherbe	Etienne Carjat French, 1828–1906	c. 1876	woodwork	Europe	false