This is a charming Victorian cabinet card photograph of a young girl posed in a studio setting. She wears a long white dress trimmed with lace and embroidery, accented by a small floral corsage. Her curly hair is neatly styled, and she leans gracefully against a carved wooden chair, gazing directly at the camera with an innocent expression. The card mount features beveled gold scalloped edges, a design detail popular in the 1890s that adds decorative flair. The photographer’s imprint reads: Rayburn, 500 Main St., Little Rock, Ark. The photographer, T. B. Rayburn, was one of the leading photographers in Little Rock during the late 19th century. Born in Clark County, Arkansas, he trained under B. S. Alford before opening his own gallery in 1889. Rayburn was recognized as an innovator—he was the first photographer in Arkansas to make celluloid portraits, to use electric and magnesium light photography, and to photograph the well-known caves near Batesville. His studio was especially popular with theatrical performers and prominent citizens of the region. This cabinet card is a lovely example of Rayburn’s portraiture, capturing both the innocence of childhood and the technical skill of a pioneering Southern photographer. (SOLD)
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