« Being Cool, 1900 »
Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 12:51PM 
What is noteworthy about this image? The short answer – not much.
The long answer is that it is quite typical of such graduation portraits of young women of the late 19th and early 20th century. Most notable is the solid stance, both feet on the same plane; one foot is not pointed forward nor is there any consequent lateral tilt to the hips (not that the fashions of the time would reveal much, since by then the cinched wasp-waist was out of fashion, and much improved skeletal and muscle health was the benefit.) Very high heels were also not the fashion.
This is not to suggest that young women were unconcerned about the physical image they projected; on the contrary, hair and dress and adornment were as important as ever, but with reliance on a modest comportment; the importance of appearing “sexy” or “hot” as in our time was decidedly “uncool” in proper society, but it made itself evident in advertising and in popular entertainment even so (just not my daughter!)
When I began work on this photo, I discovered that the smudgy flaw on her left hand was actually a ring with a sizable stone.
Wanting to be naturally desirable has existed since prehistory; all cultures and times have their ways.
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