[Mezzotint portrait of a Girl in Profile, from The St. Memin Collection of Portraits] 1862

This mezzotint portrait of a girl in profile is part of The St. Memin Collection of Portraits, by Jeremiah Gurney. Reflect on the socio-cultural norms of the 19th century, when this work was likely created. The delicate rendering of the girl’s features and the emphasis on her refined appearance reflect the premium placed on women’s virtue and beauty in that period. The artist, Jeremiah Gurney, was a successful photographer in New York City. Photography, then in its relative infancy, offered new ways of capturing likeness, yet portraiture remained largely the domain of the upper classes. Consider the identity of the sitter, likely a young woman of privilege, carefully positioned to convey grace and decorum. What does it mean to memorialize youth and innocence in this way? The portrait speaks volumes about the construction of femininity and the power dynamics inherent in the act of representation.