Before 1839, depictions of nudity and erotica generally consisted of paintings, drawings and engravings. In that year, Louis Daguerre presented the first practical process of photography to the French Academy of Sciences.
The distinction between artist’s studies and erotic imagery in early photography was often blurred. Photographers could claim artistic intent while producing works designed to titillate. This ambiguity allowed for the production and circulation of sensual images in a repressive social climate.
The survival of these daguerreotypes suggests a significant demand for such imagery. Despite moral restrictions, there was clearly a market for erotic photographs, indicating a gap between public morality and private desires in 19th-century society.
