Woman with a white knit shawl
Click here to view it larger.
What it is:
Photo mounted on cardboard, approx 4.25 x 6.25 inches.
What I know about it:
Nothing! Undated and unidentified.
Comments:
This is approximately the size of a cabinet card, but is irregularly trimmed and has none of the usual photographer’s identification, making me wonder if this is some sort of draft copy. The scenery suggests the photography studio is well enough equipped to have proper cards printed with its own insignia. Even though this image reveals some spottiness when you enlarge it, I think it’s still very attractive. The shawl strikes me as unusual (certainly unique in my collection of images), partly because it seems so homespun against her elegant dress, and also because the white stands out so much. But I think it’s a nice effect.
Not to be picky, but the shawl appears to be crocheted, not knitted. They are two very different art forms. 🙂 Of course, it’s hard to tell, since really only the bit above the right arm is clear, but the puffs indicate crochet to me. Chances are, the dress was hand-made as well.
Oh, thanks! Feel free to be picky on things like that. I have at least a couple other readers who knit, too, so someone was bound to set me straight on that. 🙂 As for the dress, I figured it was probably hand made rather than, say, machine made in a sweat shop, but I guess it seemed like contrasting styles being joined in a way that was nevertheless effective. Sorry I didn’t express myself better.
I like her face. Poor woman, all knit up and corseted. I would have freed her, both by drink and praise. Her hair let down, the hoops removed, she would have purred through the night, saucy and wicked.
You’re right, she is beautiful. I’m chuckling, though, picturing you with a time machine. 🙂
One possibility is that the picture was framed and was just a bit too big, trimmed allowed the fit. I have seen this done before but never with cardboard. I love her dress, such attention to detail. Imagine having to button all of those buttons. Getting dressed would be an event in itself.
Yes, I’ve seen photos trimmed to fit frames, too. Also, I’ve seen cabinet cards with the bottoms trimmed off, possibly to remove what it essentially the photographer’s advertising. It’s just that this one is about the size of a cabinet card after the trimming, which is what makes it confusing. And yes, that’s a beautiful dress. All those buttons. You don’t think they’re just decorative, and the shawl hides a zipper? 😉
The hand on the hip is unusual for this time, isn’t it?
It does seem a little sassy now that you point it out.