Portrait of Young Woman — Godfrey Studio, Macomb, Illinois

Photograph

-

The Recorded Image Project

Name/Title

Portrait of Young Woman — Godfrey Studio, Macomb, Illinois

Entry/Object ID

RE-PH-2026-0091

Description

Studio portrait of a young woman with short, sculpted Marcel-waved hair, photographed at Godfrey Studio in Macomb, Illinois. The hairstyle and clothing strongly reflect early 1920s fashion.

Photograph Details

Type of Photograph

Gelatin Print - silver bromide

Category

1920's, Woman

Made/Created

Studio

Godfrey Studio

Date made

circa 1921 - circa 1926

Place

State/Province

Illinois

Continent

North America

Notes

The mount imprint reads: “Godfrey — Macomb, Ill.” Macomb was a regional commercial center in western Illinois and supported several photographic studios during the early twentieth century. The photograph depicts a young woman, likely late teens to early twenties, shown in a half-length studio portrait. Notable features include: Carefully styled short bob haircut Prominent Marcel waves arranged across the head Soft natural lighting Neutral studio background High-necked dress with decorative buttoned shoulder detail The subject faces slightly to the right but looks directly toward the camera, a common pose in early twentieth-century studio portraiture. Dating indicators Marcel waved bob haircut Extremely popular among women during the early 1920s following the emergence of the "flapper" era. The Marcel wave pattern here is a very specific early-1920s style. By 1927–1930 waves tended to be flatter and closer to the scalp. This hairstyle strongly suggests around 1922–1924. Short, sculpted waves close to the head Typical of 1922–1925 hair fashion. Simple dress with shoulder decoration Reflects the streamlined, less corseted silhouettes that became popular after World War I. Minimal jewelry and ornamentation Characteristic of early 1920s fashion trends emphasizing modern simplicity. Together these elements suggest a date approximately 1922–1925.

Ethnography

Notes

This portrait reflects the profound cultural and stylistic changes that occurred in the United States during the early 1920s. Following World War I, women’s fashion shifted toward greater practicality and modernity. Hairstyles shortened dramatically, and the bob haircut became a defining symbol of the new generation of young women. The Marcel wave technique, introduced by French hairdresser François Marcel in the late nineteenth century, became especially fashionable during the 1920s. The carefully sculpted waves visible in this portrait would have required heated curling irons and considerable styling skill. Studio portraits of young women during this period were often commissioned to mark significant moments such as graduation, employment, or early adulthood. Photographs like this one reflect both personal identity and broader cultural trends of the Jazz Age.

Condition

Overall Condition

Very Good

Date Examined

Mar 3, 2026

Notes

Minor edge wear on mount Slight tonal aging consistent with gelatin silver prints Print surface appears stable and well preserved

General Notes

Note Type

Description

Note

This studio portrait depicts a young woman photographed at Godfrey Studio in Macomb, Illinois, during the early 1920s. The subject wears a short bob haircut styled in pronounced Marcel waves, a fashionable hairstyle that became widely popular during the Jazz Age. Her dress features a simple high neckline with decorative buttons along the shoulder seam, reflecting the streamlined clothing styles that emerged after World War I. The photograph was produced using the gelatin silver bromide printing process, which had become the dominant commercial portrait method by the early twentieth century. Mounted on a textured studio card bearing the imprint "Godfrey — Macomb, Ill.," the image represents a typical example of American studio portraiture during the early 1920s. Portraits such as this were frequently commissioned to commemorate milestones in a young woman's life and reflect the changing cultural landscape of the period, when modern fashion and new social freedoms were reshaping female identity in the United States.

Create Date

March 4, 2026