This is a strange little tintype.
Granted she alone looks a little striking but what on earth is going on in the foreground with that drape? Usually this sort of thing is seen with a “hidden mother” plate, where the mum sits hidden whilst holding her child relatively still to enable the exposure to take place for a solo portrait of the child. Whats going on in this image I have no idea at all. Surely not an oversight by the photographer??
Edit: I’ve now seen two other plates similar to this with the drape in a similar position, it must symbolise something surely?…. anyone?
It appears that she may be wearing a mourning outfit – the fabric could represent separation/death’s veil? Purely supposition on my part.
Hi Alex,
A mourning outfit with white lace trim??
The whole fabric/drape thing is a slightly cumbersome dont you think? Very weird. And if it was common for a mourning image it would be more common I think.
Must be some research somewhere on this……
Hope you are well,
Tony
Yes, a very strange one indeed – I had wondered if this was a transitional dress (one year of black then introducing colour/pattern/detail) but it could just be a standard dress. Either way it is pretty strange. Did you have other examples of this?
Other thoughts – concealing a disability/referencing an artwork?
I’m well thanks 🙂
I did find two other examples on ebay but I dont like using other peoples images online without their permission.
Mostly you see either an empty chair/chair with item on it or someone holding an item in their hands to signify the missing person.
This just seems…..awkward?