Papa & Mama; The Birthday Group 1853 - 1856

This is a photographic print entitled "Papa & Mama; The Birthday Group," made by Thereza Dillwyn Llewelyn. The composition is divided into two distinct registers, each presenting a scene that seems to capture different facets of family life. In the upper section, a couple stands on a threshold, the man holding what appears to be a document, their figures framed by architectural elements. The lower register shifts to a more intimate gathering of children, possibly on a birthday, their poses casual and arrangements more clustered. The sepia tone imbues the photograph with a sense of nostalgia, which flattens the depth and texture of the image, emphasizing shape and form. Llewelyn’s juxtaposition of these scenes is a clever construction, using the photographic medium not just to document but to reflect on the different relational dynamics within a family structure.