Untitled (headshot of unidentified woman looking right) 1885 - 1893

Curator: Edwin A. Bass created this cabinet card, a photographic print mounted on card stock, in the late 19th or early 20th century. It's a portrait of an unidentified woman. Editor: It feels so intimate, like I'm catching a glimpse of a private moment. The sepia tones lend a dreamlike quality, almost as if she's a character from a novel. Curator: Consider the socio-economic context of portraiture at the time. Photography was becoming more accessible, yet still a significant investment for many families. These images circulated, solidifying social bonds. Editor: Absolutely. And there's a fragility to it, isn't there? Knowing this image has survived, carrying the weight of an unknown life across time. It sparks the imagination, makes you wonder about her story. Curator: The material quality itself speaks to a bygone era of studios and darkrooms. Bass's stamp on the bottom reflects the commercial aspect of early photography. Editor: For me, it's about her gaze, directed just beyond the frame. What was she looking at, what was she thinking? It holds a quiet power, this little picture. Curator: Indeed, a confluence of social practice and personal mystery. Editor: It's a beautiful reminder of how art, even in its simplest form, connects us to the past.