Opening: $45 Hammer Price: $45 SOLD Skylight Gallery 31 October 2010

Cabinet-card format photograph showing a European family in Algerian costume circa 1885, by J. Cougot, Constantine, Algeria. With gilt imprint front "J. Cougot / Constantine" and reverse "Photographie D'Art / J. Cougot / Rue de la Tour / Place d'Orléan / Constantine."   ( Inventory# ic791 )

In this comical tour de force of Orientalist posing, the whole family is involved, although some sitters are more successful at looking native than others. The little girl seated in foreground seems to have no success whatsoever, perhaps because she has refused to don any oriental-looking clothing, with the exception of a pointed party hat. Her sullen glare and defiant posture speak to us across the ages, saying "NO! -- I WON'T!!!".

View Past Lots in Related Categories:

Cabinet Card

Anthropology

Travel