ca. 1861-1864, 1865-1867
albumin paper mounted on cardboard, 9.3 × 5.9 cm (9.7 × 6.2 cm), 9.2 × 5.4 cm (10.3 × 6 cm),
names of portrayed persons on the front of each work, inscription "Karol Beyer w Warszawie" on the front of one photograph, studio name printed on the reverse
vintage prints

Being a pioneer of Polish photography, Beyer was among the first photographers in Poland to produce carte de visite. Carte de visite was a type of small photograph which was patented in Paris in the mid-19th century. The photo was mounted on a slightly bigger card. Usually, it showed a model against a curtain and special background, surrounded by props, such as furniture or a column. Thanks to contacts with French photographers, Buyer became familiar with all the major photographic techniques of his time. Thus, not only were Buyer’s portraits refined in technical terms, but were also characterised by high artistic qualities.