This Cabinet Card is a bit unusual in that it is an image of a woman posing next to framed art. The pose raises some interesting questions. Is the woman an artist proudly displaying her artistic creation? Is the art in this photograph just a prop that the photographer likes to use in his studio work? The questions are unanswerable today but perhaps other images from this photographer will be found that also include art as part of his portraits. Such a finding would indicate that the art is simply a studio prop. The photographer is George L. Washburn of Castile, New York.
AN ARTIST AND HER ART IN CASTILE, NEW YORK
BABY ON A BEARSKIN RUG IN COLUMBIA, PENNSYLVANIA
This photographic is a terrific portrait of an adorable baby photographed by Wm. Bailey of Columbia, Pennsylvania. The baby is wearing a long gown and appears to be lying on a bear skin rug. The infant’s hair is worn in an interesting style; it seems to be gathered at the top of her head. To view other photographs by William Bailey, click on the category “Photogapher: Bailey”.
PHOTOGRAPHER’S DAUGHTER MAKES GOOD: FAMILY PORTRAIT ENTERS THE CABINET CARD GALLERY
This cabinet card appears to be a family portrait, judging by the similar appearance of many of the subjects in the photograph. This is one very serious and intense family. Were these young men and woman told by the photographer to look dejected and severe? The photographer of this cabinet card has some interesting biographical facts. George Shadrach Lofft took this photograph in his studio in Lapeer, Michigan. In addition to his profession of photography, Lofft was an illustrator who loved to draw pastel and crayon portraits. He had six children and could not support his family as a photographer. In 1902 he moved his family to Philadelphia where he worked for a Dry Plate company. He died in 1937. One of his daughters found great success in the world of literature. Marguerite de Angeli (1889-1987) was a best selling and award winning author and illustrator of children’s books.
BEAUTIFULLY DRESSED WOMAN ON A SWING
This Cabinet Card is a portrait of a young woman sitting on a swing. The props and background of this photograph are exquisite. The woman is beautifully dressed. Hopefully a visitor can explain what she is wearing around her neck. It looks like a kerchief but it is clearly something more complicated. The photographer is Farley and the location of the studio is somewhere in Illinois. To view other photographs by this photographer, click on the category “Photographer: Farley”.
FASHIONABLE WOMAN IN NEW YORK CITY
A young woman in a pretty dress poses for the photographer at the studio of Hargrave & Gubelman in New York City, New York. The Post Office Guide (1890) has an advertisement for the studio which indicates that A. J. Hargrave managed the New York City Studio while Theodore Gubelman managed their second studio, which was located in Jersey City, New Jersey. To view other photographs by Hargrave, click on the category “Photographer: Hargrave”.
MUTTON CHOP MAN AND HIS WIFE AND BABY SIT FOR THEIR PORTRAIT IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN
This cabinet card photograph is a studio photograph of a young family posing as if they are sitting in an outside garden. The man has some impressive mutton chops that seem to be distracting his wife. The photographer is Smith whose studio was in Detroit, Michigan.
TOP HAT: FASHION STATEMENT IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN
This cabinet card photograph features a young man formally dressed with a top hat on his head. “Toppers” became very popular at the end of the 18th century and remained in fashion to various degrees during the next two centuries. Viewing the fashionable man in this photograph brings up the question, “in what settings does he wear the top hat?”. The photographer is E. P. Baker of Detroit, Michigan. A Detroit business directory, published in 1873, lists Baker as owning a photographic studio at a different address than the address listed on this cabinet card.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 