Drie portretten van vrouwen, onder wie Soledad Villafranca en Lilie Elsie 1900 - 1930

This is a mounted photograph from an album of Antonio Garcia. It presents three portraits of women, including Soledad Villafranca and Lilie Elsie. The composition is structured by the clear separation of each portrait, creating a triptych-like effect. Each woman is framed within a distinct pictorial space, yet linked through the shared materiality of the photographic print and the album page, prompting a comparative reading. Garcia’s emphasis on texture, from the lace details to the plush furs, articulates a semiotic code of femininity and status. Note how the tonal range, from stark whites to deep blacks, draws our eye to specific areas within each portrait, guiding our interpretation of each sitter’s character. Ultimately, the photograph invites us to consider how representation is constructed through stylistic choices, and how these choices may reflect or challenge prevailing social narratives. The work becomes a study not only of individual likeness but also of the cultural values embedded within photographic portraiture.