Taking self-portraits, also known as “selfies,” has become a common occurrence in the digital age. But did you know that the first selfie in history predates the invention of cell phones and social media?
Robert Cornelius, an American photographer pioneer, is credited with taking the first selfie. Cornelius set up his camera in the back of his family’s Philadelphia store in 1839 and took a daguerreotype (an early form of photography) of himself. He had to unscrew the lens cap, run into the frame fast, sit still for several minutes, and then restore the lens cover to end the exposure. As a result, the world’s first selfie was a blurry but identifiable image of Cornelius.
Photography was a revolutionary and time-consuming procedure that required extended exposure times and cautious chemical handling at the time. Despite these obstacles, Cornelius considered self-portraits as a form of self-expression and documentation. He engraved the reverse of the daguerreotype, “The first light picture was ever taken,” emphasizing its historic significance.
Cornelius’ selfie was never posted on social media or seen by a worldwide audience, but it did set the framework for a new type of visual self-representation. Photography techniques improved over time, becoming more accessible and convenient to the general public. The name “selfie” would not, however, be coined until much later.
In the twenty-first century, selfies have become an accepted aspect of modern culture. Taking and sharing selfies has become a global fad since the introduction of front-facing cameras on smartphones and the growth of social media sites such as Instagram and Snapchat.
The first selfie’s effect goes beyond mere documenting; it represents human creativity and the timeless need for self-expression. By photographing himself, Robert Cornelius unknowingly opened the way for the democratization of self-portraiture, making it available to billions of people worldwide today.
The first selfie in the world may have been a humble experiment in photography, but it has left an indelible mark on history. It serves as a reminder of how a simple act of self-representation can transcend time, technology, and societal changes, connecting us to our past and the ever-evolving present of visual communication.