Hypervisibility: Early Photography and Privacy in North America, 1839–1900

Hypervisibility: Early Photography and Privacy in North America, 1839–1900
May 9–August 3, 2024

University Gallery
Guest Curators: Sarah Parsons and Frances Dorenbaum
Given the current ubiquity of cameras and the broad circulation of photographs in this digital age, photography can be understood as a threat to privacy. But even in its earliest forms—from daguerreotypes, cartes de visite, and stereographs to commercial advertising—the medium triggered both excitement and concerns about heightened visibility. Photography carried various risks and rewards based on gender, race, class, and disability. This exhibition considers some of those aspects as it traces the fascinating interrelated and overlooked histories of photography and privacy in the nineteenth century.
This exhibition draws on research supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
Public Programs
Opening Reception
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 | 6–8 pm
Curator in Conversation: Privacy, Visibility, and Early Photography
Sarah Parsons (York University) and Zeynep Gürsel (Rutgers University-New Brunswick)
Wednesday, June 5, 2024 | 6 pm
Special Exhibition Tour: Hypervisibility
Frances Dorenbaum
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 | 6 pm
All events take place at The Image Centre (33 Gould St., Toronto) unless otherwise noted.
Admission is always free

Gallery Hours
Wednesday: 12–8 pm
Thursday–Saturday: 12–6 pm
Sunday–Tuesday: Closed

Exhibition Tours
Tuesday: By appointment
Wednesday–Friday: Drop-in, 1:30 pm

Image Centre:
City of New York, [Broadside for the capture of William C. Murray and Ada Shreve], 1873, ink on paper with two albumen prints (wanted poster). Courtesy of the Nova Scotia Archives