Blad afkomstig uit een fotoalbum, met 14 foto's (ongemonteerde carte-de-visites) en met inkt aangebrachte randversieringen c. 1865 - 1870

Lady Filmer's photographic album page presents fourteen carte-de-visite portraits arranged with ink-drawn borders. The subjects are predominantly dressed in the fashions of the time, each pose and garment speaking volumes about social standing and personal identity. Consider the recurring motif of hands: some clasped demurely, others resting on furniture, subtly conveying character and status. This symbolic gesture harkens back to ancient Roman portraiture, where hand placement signified power and virtue. Yet, here, in the Victorian era, the gesture is softer, hinting at the era’s emphasis on propriety and emotional restraint. These carefully constructed images resonate with a collective memory of how one ought to present oneself. The visual language of pose and dress, deeply embedded in our cultural psyche, continues to shape our understanding of identity and social roles.