"Sadness" By Julia Margaret Cameron

"Sadness." Julia Margaret Cameron. 1964. Carbon Print. 9 1/2" x 9 1/2".

The photograph "Sadness" is a study that Cameron did of actress Ellen Terry at the age of sixteen. This photo is a simple close up of a girl leaning against a wall. The photo is very soft especially around the Ellen, with focus a stop short of sharp on her. A feature of this photograph that adds a sense intimacy is that it is circular rather than rectangular or square. This brings the viewers focus directly on the girl. The only other parts of the photo that can draw the focus are the dark line in the background (which still directs attention to Ellen) and the pattern of the wall paper.

What really makes the meaning of the photo is Ellen holding her necklace and the tilt of the head against the wall. This represents sadness in the way that many women do this when they are sad. It is a common and recognized action by women. The emotion Cameron is trying to communicate is evident without the title of the piece.The slight underexposure of the photo creates a feeling of heaviness and a little darkness to the photo.

Photography at the time was about facts, a true representation of life. Julia sought to show the emotions of a person: to represent who a person was. This photograph of Ellen does just what Cameron intended. At the time of this photo Ellen was  married to painter George Frederick Watts. The two hadn't been together a year before they split up. Ellen recalled for her autobiography how difficult the relationship had been for her. "While [Ellen] Terry may have been striking a pose for Cameron, the picture's title and Terry's expression suggests that Cameron was probing Terry's conflicted and anxious soul." (Photogravue.com) Cameron excelled at her intention. Visually and technically, the photo is stunning. 

http://www.photogravure.com/blog/2007/10/julia-margaret-cameron-sadness/

http://masters-of-photography.com/C/cameron/cameron_articles2.html

Julia Margaret Cameron Notes

Cameron was forty-eight when she first delved into the world of photography. She was given a camera as a gift and was taken to it. The world of photography was something she sought to master. Being the wife of a retired jurist, she did not need to make a living off of her work. This gave her total freedom to take photos as she saw fit.She took inspiration from the novels, poems, and other literature she read.

What she saw as great importance in her work was the emotion of the model. The techniques that she used contained soft-focus, close up, and darkroom manipulation. She was known for even kicking her tripod to ensure she had a soft focus photo. This was all unlike most other photographers of the time. As well, one thing that was important about her was the fact she was a female photographer. Most photographers of the time were males.


http://www.victoriaspast.com/JuiliaMCameron/juliacameron.htm
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/j/julia-margaret-cameron-collection-highlights/
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0810030.html