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Sunday, March 1, 2020

Caney, William Laws in Durban



Reverse of the photo below showing trade-plate,
offering any portraits enlarged to life-size and in oil or water colors [sic]
to order.



Photograph by William Laws Caney during his Durban studio phase; taken
mid-1880s. It's an appealing informal portrait: the little boy in everyday clothes rather than Sunday best and appropriately barefoot among the photographers' farm props (including animal skin). But the crochet collar and intricate quasi-military design of the jacket-front show the quality of the garments. The child's hair has been left in natural curls and waves.


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