[Two Girls in Identical Dresses] 1852 - 1863

This is Jeremiah Gurney’s photograph, “Two Girls in Identical Dresses”, an early example of portraiture using photography. The composition immediately strikes you with its symmetrical arrangement, offering a study in duplication and subtle variance. The two girls, dressed identically, create a mirror-like effect, yet the slight differences in their posture and expression hint at individuality. Consider how the technical constraints of early photography – the long exposure times, the limited tonal range – contribute to the photograph's aesthetic. The girls' stillness emphasizes the geometry of their forms and the texture of their dresses. The muted tones and soft focus lends the image a ghostly quality. Gurney’s choice to highlight this sameness and difference raises interesting questions about identity, representation and the self. The photograph, with its formal composition and subdued palette, challenges our perception of the individual, prompting us to reflect on how identity is constructed through both likeness and distinction.