Women Workers in Notman's Studio : Young Ladies of the Printing Room

Scattered among the 160 000 images made by the Notman Photographic Studio of Montreal between 1860 and 1880, and preserved today in the studio's picture books at the McCord Museum, are about two dozen portraits taken by women who worked for William Notman (1826-1891) during that period. The author notes that their photographs harmonize well with those photos of the bourgeois women who were Notman clients, sharing poses, expressions, dress, coiffures and attributes. She explains that the women whose portraits were taken are situated in comfortable home-like environments. They pose alone, or as sisters, or as mothers and daughters (never as wives), with attributes of education and leisure, such as books, watercolour sketchbooks or, notably, photographs and albums. Their clothing is always elegant and occasionally sumptuous.

History of Photography

Vol. 20

no. 2

122-128

1996

en