Walt Whitman by Frederick Gutekunst?, ca. 1888

This was the frontispiece for November Boughs (1888) and the 1889 Leaves . Whitman labeled it "Walt Whitman in his 70th year," and claimed "the picture is in the nature of a surprise: my niece was here the other day—found it lying around—asked for it. It seems to me a satisfying picture, all in all" (Horace Traubel, With Walt Whitman in Camden, Monday, August 6, 1888). Whitman was disappointed that "no one likes the frontispiece. . . . All the boys turn up their noses—smell something wrong—think it won't do," but Whitman believed it "serves our purpose—is appropriate" (Monday, October 1st, 1888). He admitted to Thomas Harned that it was not "high art" but insisted he was "not looking for high art": "sometimes a picture which is elementally very simple, crude, has something to say, says something, in fact, which no amount of added finesse would strengthen or improve" (Thursday, October 4th, 1888).

Whitman was not so pleased with the "technicalities" of the photoengraving, but, he said, "damn the technicalities if the rest is all right!" (Friday, August 24, 1888). Horace Traubel complained to the photoengraver that he had done a bad job, and the engraver replied, "It is bum—I wouldn't have been surprised if you had turned it down." But Whitman believed the photo fit November Boughs: "it has the same air, tone, ring, color: the same ruggedness, unstudiedness, unconventionality" (Sunday, August 26, 1888).

For more information on Frederick Gutekunst, see "Notes on Whitman's Photographers."