Mlle. Roiz, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

Editor: This is "Mlle. Roiz, from the Actresses series," a print drawing photograph made in 1890 by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. It seems quite theatrical, almost staged, with the sepia tones lending it a nostalgic air. The pose and costuming seem central to its overall effect. What can you tell me about how it functions as a formal composition? Curator: Consider the balance struck between the figure and the background. Note how the tonality, almost monochromatic, compresses space. The pose, too, with the subject's weight shifted to one leg, creates a dynamic tension. Can you identify a key element in guiding the viewer's eye? Editor: Perhaps it's the drapery? The way it falls creates lines and folds, directing your gaze. It almost feels sculptural. Curator: Precisely. And what effect does that linearity achieve in relation to the overall flatness implied by the print medium? How does that surface, its textures and light capture relate to our sense of form? Editor: I see what you mean. It is interesting how the play of light and shadow helps define the contours of her figure despite the monochromatic palette. I never considered the interplay of flatness and depth like that before. Curator: Paying close attention to elements such as color, line and tone lets us grasp a deeper understanding of an artwork's composition. Editor: That makes me see portrait photography with entirely fresh eyes. Thanks.