The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of March 15, 2026
Young Woman in a Patterned Dress
1860s
Image: 6.8 x 5.7 cm (2 11/16 x 2 1/4 in.); Case: 9.4 x 8.2 cm (3 11/16 x 3 1/4 in.)
Location: Not on view
Did You Know?
Before the age of the snapshot, being photographed was a special occasion for which people dressed in their best clothing.Description
Instead of expressing the sitter’s personality, the pose and composition are structured to draw attention to her prized possession: her best dress. The photographer employed a compositional formula and pose frequently chosen by photographers of that era to show off dresses made from fabric with complex, rhythmic geometric patterns.- {{cite web|title=Young Woman in a Patterned Dress|url=false|author=|year=1860s|access-date=15 March 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2024.16