Man with intense eyes in Santa Clara, California
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What it is:
Cabinet card measuring 4.25 x 6.5 inches.
What I know about it:
Photographer is H. Schoene of Santa Clara, California. Otherwise no information.
Comments:
The longer I look at this face, the more I detect a kindness in it. But first I have to get past the initial impression that he’s putting a curse on me, or getting ready to eat me alive. I didn’t find any information on this photographer, but I found one or two other examples of his work, going back to the 1870s. I’m not sure what the date for this one would be. I’m guessing the 1880s, though I could be way off base. If it helps to date it, here is the photographer’s logo on the back.
Pics of Then 
I love that it’s so local. It also reminds me of a story I just read about Boris Karloff’s “Frankenstein” makeup–his eyes looked too intense and alive, so they added the half-closed eyelid pieces. (You can sort of see what they mean here: https://i.etsystatic.com/11296903/r/il/1ec02e/1610195929/il_570xN.1610195929_bg93.jpg)
Oh, wow, yes, I see what you mean.