A woman poses as both photographer and subject in this gelatin silver print, a staged comic scene set within a painted portrait studio. The image is printed on larger-format paper, consistent with an 8 x 10 presentation print, and carries no photographer's imprint on the reverse. The setup lampoons the portrait photography experience, with one figure seated as the sitter and the same woman — or a look-alike — operating the camera at right, creating a humorous doubling effect achieved through a double-exposure or composite printing technique.
The seated figure wears a sleeveless satin costume with ribbon trim and dark stockings, legs crossed and extended casually, smiling broadly toward the camera. The standing figure at right operates a view camera on a wooden tripod, one foot propped on a stool, dressed in a dark short-skirted costume with white lace collar and white lace-trimmed bloomers, white heeled boots visible below. A painted backdrop depicting an ornate interior with draped curtains and decorative panels fills the background, and a fringed rug covers the studio floor.
The reverse bears a penciled price notation of "$125" in the upper left corner and the numeral "50" in the lower right.
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