Portrait of Young Girl Seated Outdoors in Wooden Chair

Photograph

-

The Recorded Image Project

Name/Title

Portrait of Young Girl Seated Outdoors in Wooden Chair

Entry/Object ID

RE-PH-2026-0081

Description

Outdoor portrait of a young girl seated in a wooden armchair, smiling toward the camera, wearing a dress and cardigan typical of late 1920s to early 1930s American childhood fashion.

Category

girl, 1920's, 1930's, Outdoor

Made/Created

Studio

Unknown

Date made

circa 1925 - circa 1935

Place

Continent

North America

Notes

Unidentified Photographer No studio imprint or photographer identification is visible on the mount or image. Place United States (exact location unknown) Based on clothing, mount style, and photographic technique, the portrait was almost certainly produced in the United States. The outdoor garden setting suggests either: A studio garden setup, or A private residence portrait taken by a professional or advanced amateur photographer The absence of a studio imprint suggests several possibilities: Portrait taken by an independent local photographer Mount trimmed from a larger original presentation Use of standardized commercial mount stock without studio branding Outdoor portrait taken by a mobile or regional photographer During the late 1920s and early 1930s, photographic technology had advanced significantly, allowing more flexible outdoor portraiture with natural lighting.

Ethnography

Notes

By the 1920s and 1930s, improvements in photographic emulsions and equipment allowed: Outdoor portrait sessions More natural lighting Less rigid posing conventions Changing representation of childhood Portraits increasingly emphasized: Individual personality Natural expressions Emotional warmth This represents a shift from strict Victorian portrait conventions. Middle-class identity documentation Such portraits were often created to: Document childhood milestones Preserve family memory Display family stability and identity

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Date Examined

Feb 15, 2026

Notes

Good tonal preservation Minor mount wear Light edge wear and surface abrasion Minor mount discoloration Image remains clear and stable

General Notes

Note Type

Description

Note

This outdoor portrait depicts a young American girl seated in a wooden armchair, photographed circa 1925–1935. The subject’s bobbed hairstyle, cardigan, and dress reflect typical childhood fashion of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Her relaxed posture and natural smile represent the evolving conventions of early twentieth-century portrait photography, which increasingly emphasized individual personality and natural expression. Unlike earlier formal studio portraits, this photograph employs an outdoor setting with natural foliage, reflecting technological advancements that allowed photographers greater flexibility in lighting and composition. Such portraits served as important family records, documenting childhood identity during a period of social and cultural modernization in the United States.

Create Date

February 4, 2026