Untitled from "Study from Life" by Clementina Hawarden

Untitled. From the collection "Study From Life"

Clementina Hawarden. 1860. Albumen print from wet collodion on glass negative.

The photograph looks like a woman greeting another woman at a glass door (or window, it's hard to tell). The woman who would be greeting the other has her back to us and looks like she is dressed to the nines. She has a very large elegant dress on and her hair done up very daintily. Where, the other woman is wearing a hat with her hair down and a dark outfit on. Other than the two women, the only thing else that is distinguishable in the photo is the glass door the women are holding on to. In the background, it appears that there are some large buildings in the back and a stone balcony railing. However, those features of the photo are very faint, most likely due to how out of focus they are. Also, the edges are torn and it's hard to say if this was done by Clementina or after her death. It is very possible that it was done by her as this has been done to many of her photographs.

It's hard to say what the meaning of the photograph could be as there is very little known about the photographer. However, the photo is from a collection called "Study from Life," so it could be assumed that Clementina intended this photo to simply be of a woman who calls on a friend. The elegance and height of the woman with her back  to us can be interpreted that she is an important woman in society. Her back to us adds mystery to the photo, because with all her well to do-ness, you want to know who this woman is.

Overall, it's a well composed photo. The torn corners kind of act like a vignette. The corners are gone so your focus is pulled to them and then into the photo. I love the mystery that goes along with the woman who is all dressed up. I feel that is what this photo is about. You see the other woman and you wonder why she's coming to call and who she is calling on. Cropping the photo to put both women on the thirds line wouldn't be quite as effective as the way the photo is done. Being able to see the other side of the glass door on the left hand side closes the photo in. It directs your attention on to the two women.