A young couple poses for their portrait at the studio of photographer, H. Larson, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The gentleman has long hair and glasses. He has a scholarly appearance. The woman’s figure is improved by a corset. She appears uncomfortable, illustrated behaviorally by the position of her arms and hands on her abdomen. This couple appears emotionally separated from each other. There is no intimacy captured in this photograph. Although the couple is posed together, they do not seem to be together. Perhaps the couple is really not physically together in the studio and this image was doctored by the photographer, who added the gentleman to an existing photograph of the woman. Herman Larson was a Swedish immigrant who came to America through Sweden in the early 1900’s. In Sweden, he held a degree of Master Photographer and was knighted by the King of Sweden for his excellent work there in the late 1800’s. In 1904 he established his photography studio in downtown Minneapolis. Much of Larson’s work came from the theological, church and public schools in the area. The studio remains in business today and its web site discloses that it still possesses Larson’s panoramic circuit camera. The site also reports that Larson semi retired in the early 1950’s.To view other photographs by Larson, click on the category “Photographer: Larson”.
ATTRACTIVE COUPLE IN HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS
This cabinet card features an attractive couple posing for their portrait at the studio of W. B. Miles, in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The gallery was located at 151 High Street. The attractive and shapely young woman is wearing a corset and beautiful dress. The gentleman is holding a walking stick; and a chain from his pocket watch is evident under his jacket.To view other photographs by Mr. Miles, click on the category “Photographer: Miles”.
FASHIONABLE WOMAN IN TAMAQUA, PENNSYLVANIA
This cabinet card captures a fashionable young woman, who judging by her expression, knows that she looks great. Note the striped bodice. Also notice her small waist, courtesy of a corset. In addition, the rings of hair on her forehead are quite unusual, but not particularly attractive. . The woman is pretty, but “its the dress” that makes this cabinet card notable. The photographer of this image is either David Baily, or his son Elmer Baily. Their studio was located in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. To view other photographs by the Bailys, and to learn more about them, click on the category “Photographer: Baily”.
PROVOCATIVE WOMAN ON A FAINTING COUCH IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
This cabinet card features a young smiling woman lying on a fainting couch. This image is quite risque for its time. The style and folds of the woman’s dress, her exposed feet, her smile and her body language all contribute to the provocativeness of this image. Fainting couches were popular in the 19th century and used predominately by woman. They are couches with a back that is traditionally raised at one end. There are two major theories as to why these type of couches became popular. The first theory was that some women wore their corsets so tight, that they restricted blood flow; causing fainting. This theory has pretty much been debunked. A second theory was that the couch was popular because many women of that time suffered from “female hysteria”. This medical condition caused symptoms that included faintness, nervousness, and insomnia. The illness was treated by “pelvic massage”. The couch was a great setting for hysterical woman to receive the treatment from visiting physicians and midwives. This female psychiatric illness sounds very much like an anxiety attack, and Xanax and Ativan seem to have replaced “pelvic massage” on a fainting couch. The photographer of this cabinet card was J. B. Wilson of Chicago, Illinois. To view other photographs by Wilson, click on the category “Photographer: Wilson (JB)”. The subject of this photograph may have been an actress.
A CABINET CARD OF A YOUNG COUPLE POSING WITH CABINET CARDS IN MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
This cabinet card features a well dressed young couple posing for their portrait in the studio of Stephen Piper in Manchester, New Hampshire. The studio was located at 804 Elm Street. The husband is seated, his jacket has just the top button fastened, and he is wearing a pocket watch. His wife is standing behind the table, an ideal position for displaying her beautiful figure (enhanced by her corset). The photographer and the subjects apparently decided to use cabinet cards as props. The young woman is displaying them on the covered table. One wonders if these are cabinet card portraits of family menbers that the couple brought from home, or if they are just cabinet cards of random people that were lying around the gallery. Piper (1835-1903) was a photographer in Manchester from 1866 to at least, 1887. He was born in Sanborton, New Hampshire. His obituary in the Manchester Union Leader nearly filled the entire front page of the newspaper. Even more remarkable for the time, was the fact that his picture was also on the front page. Piper was clearly considered an important citizen of Manchester, at the time of his death.
PRETTY WOMAN HOLDING A PRETTY FAN, IN WERSCHETZ, SERBIA
A pretty woman poses for photographer, Ivan Rigyitsky in Werschetz. Werschetz (German name) is a town in Serbia. It is known as Vrsac in Serbia. The town has been under the rule of several different governments over modern times. It was once part of Austria-Hungary. This image has some interesting features. The woman is dressed very fashionably and she is holding an open beautiful fan. Note the lovely scene pictured on the fan. The young lady has a nice figure, with the help of a corset, no doubt.
MARY BRAMER: SHAPELY WOMAN IN DULUTH, MINNESOTA
A shapely (corseted) young woman poses for her portrait at the Banks Brothers studio in Duluth, Minnesota. It feels a bit uncomfortable calling her shapely, considering she is likely someone’s great great great grandmother. Hopefully, her descendants will accept the Cabinet Card Gallery’s apologies in advance if they should happen to visit this site. The subject is posed behind a short wall and her hat is placed upon the wall. The young woman is named Mary Bramer. Her identity is found written on the reverse of the card. The photographed woman is possibly the Mary Bramer, who was born 11/2/1872 in Minnesota and died 12/7/1959 in Lake County, Minnesota.
WASP WAIST FILLY IN PHILLIE, PENNSYLVANIA
A pretty woman poses for her portrait at the Chillman Studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The wasp waisted woman is beautifully dressed and with the assistance of a corset, has a terrific figure. The photographer, Phillip E. Chillman’s obituary appears in the Bulletin of Photography (1915). Chillman died in 1915 at the age of 73. He was a pioneer of photography in Philadelphia. He opened his studio on Arch Street in the early 1860’s. He held many photography patents. During his 15 year retirement he took up and excelled at water coloring. His work was exhibited at Pennsylvania, New York City, and Boston exhibitions. To view other photographs by Chillman, click on the category “Photographer: Chillman”.
LOVELY COUPLE IN CAMDEN, MAINE
A wasp waisted woman and a mustachioed man pose for their portrait at the studio of William V. Lane, in Camden, Maine. The woman is clearly wearing a corset. The photographer, Lane (1849-1903) came to Camden and opened his gallery in 1883. He also had a branch gallery in Vinalhaven, Maine. He stayed in Camden for 15 years; and then moved to Boston, Massachusetts. While in Camden, Lane was the Chairman of the Board of Assessors and in that capacity, he promoted a new opera house in town. Lane also served as the President of the Business Men’s Association and had a one year stint as Road Commissioner. To view other images by William Lane, click on the category “Photographer: Lane”. SOLD
GOOD TIME GIRL IN NEW YORK CITY (1897)
The following letter in inscribed on the reverse of this cabinet card. “Dear Friends, This picture I send as a token to remember the good times we had and hoping to see you all again if not in this world then in the next. From a true friend, Lizzie This day November 4/1897”. This is a sweet letter from a girl who appears to be in her teenage years. The photographer of this cabinet card is The Robinson & Roe Photo Studios, in New York City. The studio had operations in both Manhattan and Brooklyn. They also operated a studio in Chicago, Illinois. They were prominent photographers in the 1880’s and 1890’s. The pair of photographers are known for their photographs of Inuits from Labrador that were produced during the Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago (1893). The Inuits were part of the Eskimo Village exhibition. SOLD

