Mademoiselle Jeannette 1869 - 1874

This is a photograph of Mademoiselle Jeannette by Jeremiah Gurney. Here, we see her adorned with symbols of her time and station. A flower in her hair, a delicate choker, and a lace shawl speak of beauty and refinement. Consider the flower. Throughout history, flowers have represented youth and beauty. We find floral motifs in ancient Roman frescoes, symbolizing springtime and renewal. Yet, in a Victorian portrait such as this, the flower takes on a more complex meaning. It becomes an attribute, carefully chosen to convey innocence and virtue, yet also hinting at the fleeting nature of beauty. The Victorians, much like us, were fascinated by the language of flowers, each bloom carrying a hidden message. This photograph, then, is not merely a record but a carefully constructed image, an attempt to capture and preserve a moment, imbued with the unspoken desires and anxieties of its time. This image, like so many, reflects our enduring quest to understand ourselves through symbols.