Louis-Adolphe Humbert de Molard

Louis-Adolphe Humbert de Molard was a photographer active during the foundational period of the medium, with his documented career spanning the years 1800 to 1860. He focused primarily on early documentary studies and portraiture, contributing significantly to the visual record of mid-nineteenth century life.

The artist’s work is highly regarded and preserved in major institutional collections. At least fifteen photographs by Louis-Adolphe Humbert de Molard prints are represented in major international museums. His oeuvre encompasses studies of daily life, such as The Bean Sorters and the genre scene repeated in The Laundry. He was also a noted portraitist, with examples including Henriette-Reneé Patu and Portrait of a Young Boy.

The historical importance of his photographic output is cemented by its inclusion in the permanent holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Due to their age and historical provenance, many of these photographs serve as crucial archival documents. Today, these historic photographs are frequently available as high-quality prints or downloadable artwork through institutional archives, ensuring access to museum-quality reproductions of his nineteenth-century images.