William McFarlane Notman

Why this artist matters now

William McFarlane Notman was a Canadian photographer and studio founder who documented Canadian cultural and commercial life during the mid-to-late nineteenth century. Active from the 1850s onward, Notman established a major photographic practice that became central to the visual record of Canada's formative decades. His studio output ranged from portraiture to landscape and documentary work, shaping how the nation's institutions, landscapes, and citizens were professionally represented and archived during this period.

Source: Moma Bulk 2026 05 04 · Trust score: 92% · Updated 1mo ago