[Studio Portrait: Two Laundresses, Naples] 1860s - 1870s

This photographic studio portrait, likely made in Naples in the mid-19th century by Giorgio Conrad, depicts two laundresses. See how they carry bundles of laundry atop their heads, a motif echoing ancient caryatids, architectural supports in the form of female figures. The image is a window into the everyday lives of Neapolitan women, the laundry becoming symbolic of their labor and resilience. Consider how this act of carrying burdens on the head resonates with images of Atlas bearing the world, found in classical sculpture and Renaissance paintings. The mundane task transforms into a powerful, symbolic act of endurance and strength. It’s fascinating to observe how the weight on their heads, both literal and metaphorical, is a visual language that speaks to collective memory. It connects these women to a long lineage of figures who shoulder burdens, engaging us on a subconscious level, and drawing on our shared understanding of human experience.