A photo from one of the family photo albums stored at the Archives. But why was it taken? And when?
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Photo Puzzle: Why was This Photo Taken?
A photo from one of the family photo albums stored at the Archives. But why was it taken? And when?
7 comments :
Ignoring the questions posed, and investigating the photographer, Constantine Eisenhardt seems to have been a prominent photographer in Detroit from c. 1870-1895ish. The 1885 Detroit Blue Book lists Mr and Mrs. C Eisenhardt at 237 Brush St.
Searching around online, I found two other photos by Eisenhardt of similarly-dressed people. http://picasaweb.google.com/ceil.jensen/EisenhardtArtGallery#5126508600839110194 I wonder if these are widowed women remarrying.
Ah, what a good way to investigate the mystery here.
Widowed women remarrying is a very interesting idea. Hmm. Could one remarry if still in widow's weeds? Or would that be seen as unseemly? I honestly don't know.
I also ran across one elusive little mention that wedding dresses have not always been white, but that that was a fad kicked off by Queen Victoria. It was seen as an elite thing to do because only the rich could afford to own a dress that took frequent hand-cleaning. Or so I read. Sounds a wee bit apocryphal.
If it's a post-mortem photograph, the photographer did a fantastic job.
(whispers) what a coincidence, Anon--I am working on a post-mortem Victorian photo story AS WE SPEAK! And.....it should be published tomorrow!!!
The subject is almost unbearably sad and poignant. I have a number of such photos collected.
Collected from our own Archives! Yes! I looked through every.......one......of our photo albums to find them. And did! Even one possible candidate for the rare "painted eyelids" phenomenon.
I'll post the story when it's finished....now I'm excited that you'll read it!
p.s. funny story: I was going through photo albums yesterday with a bit of a sleepy Monday brain...the YHS president came down and said hi and he went on the computer for a bit.
Few minutes later I wandered out of research room and asked him if he thought this guy in the photo were dead. Without bothering to give any context to this question.
His verdict was no, but he must have wondered if I were feeling all right.... :D
"Few minutes later I wandered out of research room and asked him if he thought this guy in the photo were dead. Without bothering to give any context to this question."
If he's not dead, he must be about 150 years old!
OK, you got me on that one. :) :)
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