[Mary Hillier] 1864 - 1866

This photograph, "[Mary Hillier]," was taken by Julia Margaret Cameron, a British photographer working in the mid-19th century. During this period, women artists navigated a complex social landscape, often confined to specific genres. Cameron’s portraits challenged the conventional, polished images of the time. There is a soft focus on Mary Hillier's face. She is in profile, with the fabric draped around her head. We see her youth, and something melancholic, in her gaze. Cameron often blurred the lines between art and life, using friends and family as models, and imbuing her portraits with a sense of intimacy. By infusing emotional depth into her portraits, Cameron elevated photography to the realm of fine art. The photograph serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between gender, artistic expression, and the evolving role of women in the Victorian era.