This striking 1896 Cabinet Card portrait captures a well-dressed Hispanic (likely Mexican-American) family, photographed in San Bernardino, California, by C.L. Sears, whose studio was located at 452 Third Street. The formal composition, attention to detail, and clarity of the photograph make it a compelling example of late 19th-century Southwestern portraiture. The image features four individuals: Standing at left is a young woman in a pristine white dress with puffed sleeves and a wide cinched belt. She wears gloves and a marvelous hat adorned with ribbon and flowers, her expression poised yet solemn. Seated in the center is another woman, likely the matriarch, holding an infant in her lap. She wears a richly patterned dark dress with a high collar and decorative trim. Her elaborate hat features feathers and a dark plume. Her gaze is direct and proud. The baby is dressed in a long, frilly white gown and bonnet, eyes barely open, swaddled securely in the mother’s arms. Standing to the right is a bearded man, presumably the patriarch. He wears a wide-brimmed hat, white shirt, and a textured vest, exuding a calm, grounded presence. Each subject’s expression is serious. Their clothing suggests they were dressed in their finest attire, marking this as a significant family occasion. C.L. Sears operated a photographic studio in San Bernardino in the late 19th century. His studio address, 452 Third Street, places him in the heart of the developing Southern California region during a period of migration and cultural blending. Sears is known for his clear, well-composed portraits and was active during a time when San Bernardino served as a crossroads for Hispanic, Anglo, and Indigenous communities. While not widely documented in photographic history texts, Sears’ work appears occasionally in regional archives and vintage photograph collections, typically featuring local residents, families, and scenes of everyday life. His work is valuable for its documentary quality and its representation of the diverse people who populated Southern California in the 1890s. The reverse of the Cabinet Card bears a handwritten inscription in pencil. It appears to read: “To Forosio Padilla, Cidar, Arizona,1896”. My research indicates that there is no town in Arizona named Cidar. I believe that “Cidar” is a mispelling and should read “Cedar”, Arizona. Cedar was a gold, silver and copper mining town in Mohave County, Arizona. It was founded circa 1875. Perhaps Senor Padilla and his family were from Cedar. (SOLD)
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 