This is a great photo. It shows a tradesman posing with his work. At the time a carte de visite (See r/cartedevisite for more examples) was more often a formal portrait, with the subject facing the camera. This one is informal and has a more painterly “romantic era” feel.

I came across this photo while watching g an episode of “Antiques Roadshow”. I looked it up and found a print in the Library of Congress collection.

From the Library of Congress: Black cane carver / Alex. Gardner, 921 Penna. Ave., Washington, D.C.

Photograph shows full-length portrait of an elderly African American man, Jim Mitchell, formerly enslaved at Mount Vernon, with walking sticks on the right. Names

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882, photographer Created / Published

[15 April 1870]