Young Boy in Decorative Collar with Oversized Bow — Studio Portrait

Photograph

-

The Recorded Image Project

Name/Title

Young Boy in Decorative Collar with Oversized Bow — Studio Portrait

Entry/Object ID

RE-PH-2026-0105

Description

Studio portrait of a young boy posed against an ornate balustrade, wearing a large bow and decorative collar.

Photograph Details

Type of Photograph

Albumen Print

Category

boy, Boots, bow, Late Victorian

Made/Created

Studio

Pardee

Date made

circa 1892 - circa 1902

Time Period

Victorian

Place

* Untyped Place

New York

Notes

Pardee Studio operated in Brooklyn during a period when New York City was one of the most important photographic centers in the United States. Brooklyn’s rapidly growing population and expanding middle class created strong demand for professional portraiture. Urban studios like Pardee often featured elaborate architectural props and fashionable wardrobe styling to meet the tastes of city families seeking refined likenesses. New York studios frequently influenced national portrait trends, making their work representative of mainstream Victorian photographic aesthetics.

Ethnography

Notes

American; late 19th-century childhood portraiture reflecting Victorian fashion aesthetics and formal studio presentation traditions.

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Date Examined

Mar 8, 2026

Notes

• Mount shows edge wear and corner damage • Lower mount partially torn • Surface abrasions and light foxing • Mild fading consistent with albumen process • Image remains clear with moderate contrast

General Notes

Note Type

Historical Note

Note

During the late nineteenth century, children’s clothing reflected adult fashion influences while incorporating decorative elements that emphasized innocence and social polish. Large neck bows and ornate collars were popular among boys of urban middle-class families. Albumen photography, dominant during this era, produced warm tones but often fades and yellows with age. Studio portraits served as formal family records displayed in parlors and compiled into albums.

Create Date

March 9, 2026