Elsa 

circa 1910

photograph by C. H. Benning

St. Joseph, Michigan

image size 2 1/2 w x 3 1/2 h inches

card size 4 1/4 w x 6 1/2 h inches

Photo is mounted in a raised relief oval medallion on a cream

cardboard card.

Price 25.00

Collected in Oakhurst California, 2001

Photo in excellent condition, with no fading or discoloration. 

Card has some age yellowing and minor age wear.

Back of card is blank with subject's name written in pencil. Elsa is posed in front of a simple cloudy backdrop that focuses full attention on the subject.  Elsa is a pretty young girl around sixteen years old.  She is dressed in a high collared blouse with lace collar and sleeves, and a silk hair ribbon.  Her expression is serious, typical of portraits of the time.  Long exposures required subjects to hold perfectly still, causing many sitters to have strained or fixed expressions.  Sitting for a  portrait was also considered a serious event, and portraits with relaxed or smiling expressions are rare.