Letitia Felix c. 1900

Clarence H. White made this cyanotype, titled "Letitia Felix," sometime around the turn of the 20th century. The print is dominated by a striking blue hue, a consequence of the cyanotype process. This monochrome unifies the composition and imbues the scene with a cool, ethereal quality. The composition balances the figure of Letitia Felix with the geometric forms of the table and the backdrop. Her body creates a diagonal line across the frame, subtly destabilizing a static, frontal view, hinting at a narrative. This arrangement points to the influence of Pictorialism, which often sought to elevate photography to the level of fine art through soft focus and symbolic arrangements. The smooth tonal gradations achieved through the cyanotype process soften the details, moving away from sharp realism. This contributes to the image's dreamlike atmosphere, inviting the viewer into a space where the boundaries of representation are blurred. This artistic choice underlines the photograph's engagement with the aesthetic and philosophical debates about the nature of representation during the period, prompting an ongoing re-evaluation of the visual and cultural codes embedded in early photographic practices.