Dressed for the New Hampshire cold
What it is:
Cabinet card measuring 4.25 x 6.5 inches.
What I know about it:
Photographer is Langley of Manchester, New Hampshire. Written in pen on the back is: Dad, his first wife / Mable’s mother.
Comments:
This isn’t in the best condition, but I thought it interesting enough to share. I find it curious that even though they are posed in a studio, they are still wearing outdoor clothing. I wonder why. Was it bitterly cold in the studio? Is the clothing specific to something that they were commemorating? And the note on the back is a little haunting since it suggests that, despite the protective outer garments, the woman was not much longer for the world.
At a guess, looking at the woman’s body and the way her clothing is lying, she appears to be enceinte, as they would say back then. Her hand placement is also a telling gesture for pregnancy. Remember, in those days they had to hold still for quite some time for exposure.
Thanks for your comment! That makes perfect sense. I have another photo I should post sometime. The woman’s voluminous dress puffs out in front in a way that makes me think she is, um, “great with child”. Either that or it’s an oddly placed bustle. 🙂