Lyllian Poole, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

Editor: Here we have Lyllian Poole, an albumen print from around 1890, part of the "Actresses" series promoting Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The image, because it's monochromatic, has an austere quality, focusing all the attention on Poole's theatrical garb. What jumps out at you in its formal qualities? Art Historian: Note how the albumen print process affects the texture, creating an almost dreamlike soft focus. Poole’s pose, symmetrically balanced, is striking. The photographer utilizes strong vertical lines, establishing a sense of formality. The composition invites careful study. Notice, if you will, the interplay of light and shadow that models Poole's face and dress. Editor: I see what you mean. The shadows do give a three-dimensionality, despite the flat appearance of the print. How significant are those shadows, given the symmetry you observed? Art Historian: Indeed, it's those nuances in light and dark that prevent it from being static. See how the shadow catches the fabric on her left sleeve, versus the right? Or the fall of light across the plane of her skirt versus how her bust is formed by darker elements, defining its very shape and creating interest. Would you agree that it brings the entire piece into tension? Editor: I hadn't really noticed until you pointed it out! It feels less staged now, more alive somehow. The formal constraints and deviations animate the image. Art Historian: Precisely! The rigid composition serves to heighten the subtle departures. It reveals the technical artistry involved, rather than feeling documentary. I'm delighted we explored the photograph's intricate structure today. Editor: This close formal analysis gives me an interesting way to re-examine photographs. Thank you.