Elisabeth Häusermann 1850s - 1860s

Editor: Here we have Franz Antoine's portrait of Elisabeth Häusermann, taken sometime in the 1850s or 60s. It’s a photograph, but it has such a painted quality, you know? There’s a romantic stillness to it, but also something…I don’t know, kind of severe. What captures your attention most in this piece? Curator: You know, it’s that "painted quality" as you say, that really grabs me too. Early photography often leaned heavily into the aesthetics of painting. They were trying to prove photography was just as, if not more, "artistic" as the canvas! See how Antoine carefully poses Elisabeth? What does that remind you of? Editor: Maybe like a formal oil portrait of the time, but in sepia tones? The woman looks stiff and formal to me. Is she posed to present herself with some importance? Curator: Precisely! The striped dress, the lace, the ribbon at her neck—these were deliberate choices by Elisabeth and Antoine. But I wonder, looking at her face, do you see only severity, or something else lurking there? I see resilience, intelligence, but also maybe a hint of weariness? Editor: Weariness, yes! I see that too now, peering into her eyes. It makes her feel more… human. It also humanizes the piece beyond it simply being a historical artifact or painting, that's so intriguing! Curator: Absolutely. That's the enduring power of a portrait like this. It allows us a momentary connection across time, a glimpse into another person's inner world, however fleeting. Editor: I agree! Thanks for that closer look!