The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery is presenting "From Shadow to Substance: Grand-Scale Portraits During Photography's Formative Years"; June 20 through June 7, 2026. Drawing from the museum's extensive early photography collection, this exhibition traces the evolution of the grand- scale, whole-plate portrait format from the high-end daguerreotype and mid-range ambrotype to the more affordable tintype. The exhibition is curated by Senior Curator of Photographs Ann Shumard.