Mrs. Craik Middle-Aged c. 1885

"Mrs. Craik Middle-Aged," a portrait by Hayman Seleg Mendelssohn, showcases the Victorian era's portraiture style. The sitter, Mrs. Craik, is captured in a formal pose, her hands clasped in her lap, and her face framed by a delicate lace cap. The composition, with its subtle use of light and shadow, emphasizes Mrs. Craik's features. The overall tone of the image is somber, reflecting the formal and dignified nature of Victorian portraiture, a style that aimed to capture not just a person's likeness, but also their social standing and character. This piece is currently housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, a testament to Mendelssohn's skill as a photographer.