Carol in her Mother's Dress 1972 - 1974

Joan Cassis made this photograph, Carol in her Mother’s Dress, using black and white film. Look at how Cassis has framed Carol within the domestic space. The angle of Carol's head and gaze is beautifully composed. I wonder what it was like for Cassis, photographing her daughter like this? Was it posed or spontaneous? The lighting makes me think it could have been either. The dress Carol is wearing looks like it’s from another time. Also, isn’t it odd how the dolls on the dresser to the left are placed? They give a somewhat unsettling aura to the picture, as if the dolls are looking back at Carol, watching her in her mother's dress. What secrets do the dolls hold? Photographers and painters are always having conversations with one another about light, composition, and the best way to catch a feeling, and Cassis's photograph offers us an intriguing glimpse into the play of light and shadow.