Two girls present a poised studio likeness enlivened by precise hand coloring. The elder stands at the left in a short-sleeved dress tinted rose with dark ribbon bands; the younger sits on a stool in a checked pink frock with white pantalettes and ankle boots. Faces are carefully modeled under skylight, and the younger wears a bright red bead necklace, the coral strand favored in the period as a protective charm for children.

Fashion and hair help with dating. Off-the-shoulder bodices with cap sleeves, wide sashes, and center-parted hair with ringlets point to the mid 1850s, a moment when parents often commissioned paired portraits to mark growth and kinship. The restrained backdrop and tight framing keep attention on the relationship between the sisters and on the color work that brings fabric and jewelry to life.