Change of Base
SOLD October 2013 |
CDV-format albumen print showing a comic photo-montage of Jefferson Davis donning his wife's dress, by William H. Mumler, Boston, circa 1865. With photographer's copyright notice imprinted front below image.
Jefferson Davis's alleged donning of his wife's clothing during an attempt to escape Union capture -- actually, it is claimed he only grabbed his wife's cloak, and that by accident -- was expanded into a whole genre of ridicule which depicted Davis in any number of female garments and furtive poses. In this naively-drawn image Davis has borrowed his wife's hoop skirt and is about to try the dress on.
The photomontage makes good use of the stilted expressions in some 19th century photographs, such as the dour expression of Davis's wife, here inserted into a low-comedy situation.
Image is on thin cardstock and has some bends.
