114. Girl Dressing Her Hair c. 1867

Curator: This is Felice Beato’s photograph, “Girl Dressing Her Hair," part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: There's a delicate, almost muted quality to this image; the colors are soft, and the light seems diffused, creating a very contemplative mood. Curator: Indeed. Dressing hair carries significant cultural weight in many societies, particularly concerning feminine identity, beauty standards, and rituals of transformation. The use of mirrors becomes a symbolic doubling, an exploration of self. Editor: The composition is fascinating, too. The positioning of the mirrors almost bisects the figure, drawing our eye across the picture plane. And the flatness of the background seems to push the figure forward. Curator: Beato's work is a potent reminder of how photographic images can simultaneously reflect cultural truths and construct idealized representations. It is a study in gesture, cultural symbols, and the quiet power of self-presentation. Editor: I agree. Examining the composition and light reveals how Beato directs our gaze, shaping not only what we see but also how we interpret it.