A carte de visite (CDV) features an African couple, one seated and smoking a hookah, and the other standing beside him. The photograph is a studio portrait, capturing the couple in traditional attire. The seated man is dressed in a white garment, with a cap on his head, and holds a hookah with a calm demeanor. His attire suggests a blend of traditional and possibly imported fabrics, indicative of the period's fashion among certain African communities influenced by trade. The standing woman is dressed in a long, patterned dress with a belt around her waist, and a cap on her head similar to the seated woman. Her expression is serious, and she rests one hand on her hip, projecting a sense of confidence and authority.