« Leaving Girlhood »
Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 8:07PM 
An observant parent can divide the stages of child development very nearly into weeks and months, though the distractions of living may be fatal to full enjoyment of what feel like only moments – events and moments are all that we ever remember with clarity, all the rest are vague and compacted impressions that comprise our "life".
This eleven or twelve year old girl's full length portrait is testimony to one such event: nearly hidden in her right hand, among the blossoms, is a diploma or confirmation certificate. But more important than the event are the other markers of her passage from child to young woman: a special but modest dress suitable for her age, knee length with dark stockings, laced ankle high black shoes with bows; her hair is worn up in braids with that enormous bow in fashion for ages 5 to 25 before 1910; her very stance and her calm, open face and straightforward gaze is guileless, betraying no consciousness of her dawning beauty, if indeed she knows anything of it. She is a beautiful child. She will be a lovely young woman. We don't have the photographic record of the "before" or the "after" moments of her life, only this moment (though I believe if I encounter another photo of her I will recognize her).
The masses of fresh flowers against the severity of the Prairie-style stick chair are a remarkable feature of an altogether lovely photograph.
Reader Comments (1)
I thoroughly enjoy this site and the wonderful collection of images that you are sharing with the world. The detailed descriptions, providing context, and, as this one particularly demonstrates, meaning, are a pleasure to read and testify to the care you take with each photo. Bravo and thank you.