  Very recently, a new hadronic exotic state $\eta_1(1855)$ at the invariant
mass spectrum of $\eta\eta^{'}$ was observed by the BESIII Collaboration.
According to its properties, such as the spectroscopy and decay width, the
$\eta_1(1855)$ have been suggested to be a compact multi-quark state, a hadron
molecule, or a hybrid meson. In order to distinguish the various
interpretations of the $\eta_1(1855)$, a Reggeized model combined with the
vector dominance model for $\eta_1(1855)$ photoproduction on the proton target
is presented. If the $\eta_1(1855)$ is a $s\bar{s}g$ hybrid meson, the
$\eta_1(1855)$ can be produced though the Primakoff effect. However, the
$\eta_1(1855)$ photoproduction is dominated by the $t$-channel vector mesons
$\rho$, $\omega$, and $\phi$ exchange by assuming $\eta_1(1855)$ as an $S$-wave
$K\bar{K}_1(1400)$ molecular state. Our calculations show that the total cross
section of the $\eta_1(1855)$ production via $\gamma{}p$ reaction can reach up
to 0.115 pb, about 0.0124$\%$ of the total cross section obtained by
considering the $\eta_1(1855)$ as an $S$-wave $K\bar{K}_1(1400)$ molecule. We
also find their line shapes are sizably different. If the $\eta_1(1855)$ is a
molecular state, the photoproduction of $\eta_1(1855)$ near the threshold
offers a nice place to test its molecular nature. However, it should be better
to take high energy, at least above $E_{\gamma}=16.97$ GeV, to observe the
production of $\eta_1(1855)$ if $\eta_1(1855)$ is a $s\bar{s}g$ hybrid meson.
These results can be measured in the GlueX experiment or Electron-Ion Collider
in China to test the nature of the $\eta_1(1855)$.
