A Palestinian lady from Ramallah 1928

Karimeh Abbud made this photograph of a Palestinian lady from Ramallah at some point in the first half of the 20th century, using a sepia tone that gives it a real sense of history. It's like seeing a memory, a moment captured not just in its visual details, but also in its emotional atmosphere. The focus is sharp, and the details on the lady's traditional dress really catch the eye. Look at the intricate patterns, the textures that suggest hours of careful work. The sepia tone softens the contrasts, making everything feel warmer, more human. It's a reminder that photography, like painting, can be about so much more than just representing reality. Think of the portraits by Gertrude Käsebier, how she used light and shadow to convey a mood, a feeling. Abbud does something similar here, using her technical skill to create a portrait that tells a story about culture, identity, and the way we remember the past.