In these small photographic portraits of women and girls, many of the sitters remain inidentified, yet possess a distinct individuality. While some of the images were produced with the intent of creating a lasting impression of a specific person, others were meant to represent a popular “type,” and were collected in albums depicting various ethnicities or occupations within a particular culture. Seeking clues to the identities of the women depicted in these daguerreotypes, cartes-de-visite, cabinet cards, tintypes, and Polaroids, we might consider what aspects of their own image they could have controlled. While the setting, be it real or a painted backdrop, props, and pose may have been determined by the photographer, and other aspects of their portrayal determined by cultural conventions, some facets of their presentation may provide clues to who they were at a specific moment in time. From the tightly fitted to the loosely draped and from the extravagantly embellished to the completely unadorned, a simple gaze or posture may be the most revealing element of a portrait.

Elaine Mehalakes
Kemper Curator of Academic Programs