This cabinet card portrait features three little girls posing for their portrait accompanied by a canine companion. The dog appears to be a pug although it may be one of the skinniest pugs I’ve ever seen. The dog seems to be quite alive but one never knows. There are many cabinet card photos that include stuffed dogs that look quite real. I suppose photographers of the time liked stuffed or ceramic dogs better than live dogs because the faux dogs don’t move or blink while being photographed. The children in this photograph don’t seem to be having a particularly good time. However, they are certainly adorable in their fancy clothes and coiffed hair. One of the girls is holding a flower. The children were photographed by John Zierer and his studio was located in Marytown, Wisconsin. The Fond du Lac (Wisconsin) library’s web site has an article that cites Zierer. “John Zierer was the local photographer, residing at the foot of the church hill. Much of his business centered on taking First Communion, graduation and wedding photographs for members of the community”.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 