19thc African American Woman Domestic Labor Portrait Photos

$1,500.00

Highly unusual. Elder wearing a homespun calico uniform and apron posed in a dignified 3/4 portrait. In the companion piece, her employer reads to her aloud from the bible. The race roles we expect from the time are still in play here, but the sensitivity and care of including her in the family’s photos is nothing short of revolutionary. Note...

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Highly unusual.

Elder wearing a homespun calico uniform and apron posed in a dignified 3/4 portrait. In the companion piece, her employer reads to her aloud from the bible.

The race roles we expect from the time are still in play here, but the sensitivity and care of including her in the family’s photos is nothing short of revolutionary.

Note the effect of lighting on her skin tone register. We seldom see comparison images so early in the history of photography.

Albumen photographs measure 4.5 x 7.5” w/ scrapbook residue and water wrinkles. Found in New England.

Tags: abolitionist , african american , african american history , african american labor , african american woman , african american women , american history , american labor history , antique , archive quality , Biographic & Vernacular , cultural history , domestic labor , history , labor , labor history , museum quality , photo , photograph , post slavery , reconstruction america , slavery , social history , vernacular , vintage , women