A Beautiful Backdrop (and a New York Lady)

Early photographs from American history can teach us a great deal about the society that produced these portals to our past. While the eye may be first drawn to the massive and maginificent hoop skirt worn by this unknown young woman perhaps from Watertown, NY (where the photo was taken indicated by the photographer's backmark), my own eye is attracted to the incredible detail that surrounds her. There is, for example, the carpet on the floor, which seems to have a very intricate floral pattern. Then there is the remarkable backdrop, painted by a very talented landscape artist, to resemble the parlor of a very fashionable home of the mid-nineteenth century. The artist's realistic rendition is complete with nice view out the window, a comfortable loveseat, a cast iron fireplace, and even a fancy clock on the exquisitely carved wooden mantle! The first photographs in the 1840s had no backgrounds or "status symbols", but by 1860 or so when this lady posed for her stylish photo taken by Charles Hart, "carte de visites" (visiting cards) had become as symbolic and personalized as a profile photo on Facebook or MySpace can be today. This lady wanted everyone to know that she was "top-shelf" as we might say. 140 or so years later, her haunting image still is.