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Woman is displeased by her portrait photograph
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Woman is displeased by her portrait photograph
A woman criticises a photographer after viewing the portrait he has captured of her. She believes he has manipulated her appearance, changing the shape of her nose and the size of her mouth. The photographer is stood patiently beside his camera as he confidently knows he has not altered her appearance. Date: circa 1855
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Media ID 23210684
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1850s Appearance Attire Camera Criticism Lies Manipulated Photographer Portraiture Satire Truth Ugly
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this intriguing photograph from the 1850s, a woman sternly criticizes the portrait her photographer has created, believing that he has manipulated her appearance to an unflattering extent. The artist, calmly standing beside his camera, confidently asserts that he has not altered her features. The woman's displeased expression, accentuated by her furrowed brow and pursed lips, conveys a sense of disappointment and frustration. Her elaborate Victorian dress and attire, adorned with intricate patterns and textures, add an air of elegance and sophistication to the scene. The art of portraiture in the 19th century was a highly regarded and meticulously crafted process. Photographers, like their predecessors in painting, sought to capture the essence and likeness of their subjects. However, the emergence of photography as a new medium raised questions about the relationship between truth and artifice in portraiture. Some critics argued that the camera could not lie, while others believed that the photographer's interpretation and manipulation of the image could distort reality. This image, with its satirical undertones, invites us to ponder the complexities of beauty and self-perception in the 19th century. The woman's criticism of her portrait raises questions about the role of the artist and the subject in shaping the final image. Was the photographer's intention to capture an unflattering truth, or was the woman's perception clouded by her own insecurities and expectations? Ultimately, this photograph serves as a reminder that the relationship between the artist, the subject, and the viewer is a dynamic and multifaceted one, shaped by the interplay of truth and artifice, beauty and ugliness, and the ever-changing nature of perception.
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