A Merry Tale Possibly 1882 - 1890

"A Merry Tale" is a photomontage created by British photographer Henry Peach Robinson around 1882–90. The work, now in the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago, depicts a group of four women in a pastoral setting, likely a rural English countryside. Robinson, a pioneer of the photographic art movement, was known for his use of multiple negatives to create single, highly-detailed images. His subjects often reflected idealized portrayals of Victorian life, drawing upon literary and social themes. The composition of "A Merry Tale" captures a snapshot of joyful camaraderie, suggesting a narrative of rural simplicity and contentment.