Heavy velvet drapes and tassels were ubiquitous in 19th-century photography, serving both aesthetic and practical purposes. They framed the subject, adding a touch of domestic luxury or theatrical grandeur, but also frequently hid the base of the heavy iron headrest. This theme looks at the use of drapery as a compositional device and a symbol of wealth.
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Pull Back the Curtain — View the use of textiles and drapery in composition.
