Carte-de-visite of a Young Woman, 1860s

A young woman is standing with her hand placed on a chair in a photography studio. Standing was a common pose for women at this time because it best displayed the wide skirts. This photograph was taken at J.S. Howard’s studio in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He advertised himself as a “Parisian photographer.”

The subject is wearing a dress comprised of a large, full skirt with ruched detailing on the hem and pleating at the waistline. The bodice has black trim along the princess seamlines, buttons down the center, and a bow at the collar. The Swiss belt at her waist was fashionable in the mid 1860s. The upper sleeves echo the fabric and trim of the dress, while the white undersleeves are gathered and banded at the wrist. Her hair has been styled in small ringlets, typical of younger women of the period.