Young Woman with Soft Curled Bob — Hill Studio Portrait

Photograph

-

The Recorded Image Project

Name/Title

Young Woman with Soft Curled Bob — Hill Studio Portrait

Entry/Object ID

RE-PH-2026-0099

Description

Studio portrait of a smiling young woman with softly curled bobbed hair, presented in a deckled-edge mount.

Photograph Details

Type of Photograph

Gelatin Print - silver bromide

Category

Woman

Made/Created

Studio

Hill Studio

Date made

circa 1938 - circa 1946

Time Period

20th Century

Place

State/Province

Virginia

Continent

North America

Notes

Hill Studio operated in Richmond, a historic cultural and economic center of Virginia. During the early-to-mid 20th century, Richmond supported numerous professional photography studios serving government workers, military families, students, and the city’s growing middle class. As a regional hub with strong ties to wartime industry and military activity during World War II, the city saw sustained demand for portrait photography marking graduations, engagements, enlistments, and family milestones. The studio’s elegant yet understated mount style reflects a professional business catering to clients seeking dignified, modern portraits.

Condition

Overall Condition

Very Good

Date Examined

Mar 8, 2026

Notes

• Mount shows moderate edge wear and age toning • Minor foxing and light surface speckling • Deckled edges intact • Print retains pleasing contrast and soft tonal gradation • No major tears or creases affecting image

General Notes

Note Type

Description

Note

This mid-twentieth-century studio portrait depicts a young woman styled in the soft, naturalistic aesthetic that characterized wartime-era photography. Her gently curled bob and simple blouse reflect practical fashion trends shaped by shifting social roles and material constraints. The relaxed pose and warm expression exemplify the period’s move toward more personal and intimate portraiture. Produced in a historic Southern city, the photograph illustrates the continued cultural importance of professional studio photography in documenting identity during a time of national transformation.

Create Date

March 9, 2026