I inherited my grandmother's grandmother's photo albums--two fat books of photographs, nearly all of them pre-1900, from Scotland and from various parts of the US (but mostly Ohio and Pennsylvania). Of course, most of them are unlabeled (note to the living, label your photos).
On the other hand, having unlabeled photos lets me off the hook--I don't feel obligated to the person's "real" story, so it's a chance to be creative when I use the image. What kind of story would you tell about this woman and this child? The photograph was taken in Ohio, and sent to Pennsylvania--that's all I've got. Spin me a tale!
And while you're at it...look at that cool gathered/smocking kinda detail on the woman's skirt....
I get the feeling that the husband is out of the picture
April 3 2006, 3:03 PM
both literally and figuratively When I see a formal portrait like that, I tend to think that anyone who could have gotten in the picture would have. Is that an accurate perception? Or was it common to have mother/child portraits taken?
Lisa
Lisa Clarke
Wife to Neil (4/1/95),
Mother to Aidan (2/26/00) & Eamonn (4/4/03)
Owner of Polka Dot Creations
Keeper of the keys to the Polka Dot Cottage
I do have other pictures of mothers and children, but they're usually babies who can't easily be photographed alone, and they're usually happy and smiling (example below). The combination of the other woman's expression and dark clothes makes me think "widow" too. She may be sending the photo to the child's paternal relations--and maybe she's never even met them, so why put on a happy face?
Penny
This message has been edited by susquehannah on Apr 4, 2006 11:52 AM
Yes, but you also love that elaborate headdress...
April 4 2006, 11:27 PM
...that you've posted before. Admittedly, quite cool, but I can't imagine wearing something like that.
Lisa
Lisa Clarke
Wife to Neil (4/1/95),
Mother to Aidan (2/26/00) & Eamonn (4/4/03)
Owner of Polka Dot Creations
Keeper of the keys to the Polka Dot Cottage
Never saw an elaborate hat/headgear I didn't adore! m
April 5 2006, 12:03 AM
Yes, the silent-film Cleopatra headdress worn by English actress Constance Collier is one of my all-time faves--when I become a superhero (it'll be a freak accident in a Goodwill--I'll open an interesting looking tin and BOOM, I have superpowers, including the ability to thrive on just one hour of sleep each night), this is how I will dress to fight crime:
I also like Polish actress Gabriela Zapolska's horned effect, here:
Zapolska's birthday was last week--March 30--so she's fresh in my mind.
Mary Poppins, baby, it all goes back to Mary Poppins (m)
April 5 2006, 11:41 AM
Hats DO match up with magical powers! My grandmother called me Mary Poppins through most of college, because I was attached to a black hat with a wide brim and netting--I wore that thing ragged--and then kept wearing it.
They're pretty good for shading your face and keeping a bad haircoloring mishap hidden, too....
We've finally made it to Ohio, but on the way through Pennsylvania, our good clothes were stolen by bandits. Your brother fell in a well, and we're hoping he'll be out and about soon. Fortunately for us, a family of gypsies had some extra clothes and were willing to help us with our hair for this photo.
Love,
Wilfred, Timmy, and Elizabeth Mary Lassie Anne Catherine
XXXX
This message has been edited by Clarkesworld on Apr 4, 2006 7:38 PM
Yeah, there is a gypsy quality to the costume here...m
April 4 2006, 7:44 PM
And the woman's hair is striking. One of the reasons I decided to post this one up is that she really doesn't look like the other women in the album I've got--who are all pale in coloring, and mostly plump. We can't even assume she's related to the child, huh? She might be the child's nurse or nanny, for example. That would explain the absence of a daddy in the picture, too.
When I see a formal portrait like that, I tend to think that anyone who could have gotten in the picture would have. Is that an accurate perception? Or was it common to have mother/child portraits taken?
