<p>Unusual and darkly humorous CDV-size vernacular tintype featuring five seated individuals posed indoors with an array of fabric-printed and stuffed animal pillows, including a dog, rabbit, monkey, and two cats. The group is oddly arranged in front of a painted seaside backdrop, their hands resting on or near the animals as though posing for a traditional family portrait. Most striking is the prominent act of defacement: one man’s face has been violently scratched out, an act suggestive of personal resentment, grief, or even mockery, further amplifying the strange and unsettling energy of the image.<br /> <br /> Each stuffed animal is positioned deliberately, and the group’s expressions—ranging from detached to mildly amused—contrast with the absurdity of the tableau. Photographs that intersect vernacular portraiture, outsider art, and personal vandalism rarely survive, and this one is a standout example—unequivocally strange, psychologically charged, and unforgettable. A superb specimen for collectors of the weird and wonderful.</p>