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Up for sale is a captivating, authentic turn-of-the-century antique photograph featuring a beautifully composed mirror illusion portrait. This piece showcases a stunning visual dichotomy—capturing a woman’s direct expression in a handheld mirror alongside the meticulous styling of her Victorian/Edwardian hair and attire from behind.
Mount/Card Size is 2 1/2” x 3” (Thick, dark-textured vintage photo matting). The image size is 1-1/2” x 2”. Miniature photographic print/card insert, perfect for protective framing, album curation, or historic display.
The reverse side of the card mount features an authentic, crisp ink stamp reading: “H.E. Sewell.” Historical records associate H.E. Sewell with professional photography studios operating around the turn of the 20th century, particularly noted in Galveston, Indiana. Finding an explicitly stamped print from this studio adds fantastic historical provenance and regional value for antique photograph collectors.
THE DAWN OF THE "SELFIE"
Long before smartphones and front-facing cameras, mirror photography marked the absolute dawn of the selfie concept. At the turn of the century, progressive studio photographers used mirrors as ingenious tools to control composition, depth, and identity. This image is an exceptional example of that historic trend. Rather than a flat, traditional studio headshot, this portrait captures a multi-angled narrative.
The Front: Her clear reflection highlights her direct gaze, facial features, and the lace detailing on her bodice.
The Back: The camera angle documents the complex architecture, volume, and gravity-defying hair artistry that took hours to construct, along with the structural tailoring of her dress.
Excellent vintage condition with deep, beautiful sepia tones, sharp contrast, and clear focus. The dark card matting shows minor wear consistent with its age, giving it a highly desirable, authentic historic patina. The reverse features a clean, completely legible original H.E. Sewell backstamp.
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