Mercedes de Cordoba c. 1900

"Mercedes de Cordoba" is a portrait photograph taken around 1900 by American photographer Joseph T. Keiley (1869-1914). The image depicts a young woman, Mercedes, seated in a wicker chair, her pose relaxed and contemplative. Keiley's use of soft lighting and a shallow depth of field creates a sense of intimacy and mystery, characteristic of late 19th-century portraiture. The photograph's subtle composition and evocative mood reflect the artistic trends of the period, highlighting the emerging role of photography as a fine art form.