Romantic and melancholic, those somber sepia-toned portraits from back when smiling seemed uncouth, has made a comeback thanks to Brooklyn-based photographer Robert Malmberg. In mimicking the early photographic process, which makes use of glass plates coated with a silver nitrate solution, or “wet plates”, Malmberg revives the misty, antiquated imagery of the 19th century resulting in artful, contemporary large-scale collodion photos that are eerily nostalgic. Makes for a great unique Valentine’s day gift, in a very Victorian sort of way.

GALLERY: Robert Christian