Artwork

Untitled (Semi-Circle of Children, Central Girl Dressed as an Angel Holding the Baby Jesus)

Andrés and Francisco Hernández , 1914

Untitled (Semi-Circle of Children, Central Girl Dressed as an Angel Holding the Baby Jesus) is a photography by Andrés and Francisco Hernández. It dates from 1914 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This photograph, taken in the 1910s, is a staged group portrait of 35 children arranged in a semi-circle.

Accession no.: 2022.342
Credit line: Gift of Michael F. Resch

About this work

Overview

This photograph, taken in the 1910s, is a staged group portrait of 35 children arranged in a semi-circle. The image was created in the Foto Imperio studio in San José, Costa Rica, by brothers Andrés and Francisco Hernández.

Subject & Meaning

The children are posed to commemorate a religious event, likely a Christmas pageant. A central girl dressed as an angel holds a baby, while two children at her feet are posed like a bride and groom, blending religious and secular themes.

Technique & Style

The photograph showcases the Hernández brothers' skill in arranging and capturing a complex composition. The image has a formal, almost painterly quality, with the children's stiff poses contributing to its staged, theatrical atmosphere.

History & Provenance

The Hernández brothers operated Foto Imperio alongside a bookstore and print shop, with Francisco also working as a cartoonist. Their diverse creative pursuits likely influenced the studio's photographic style.

Fancy Group of Children, Indore, Raja Deen Dayal

Artist & collection

Artist

Andrés and Francisco Hernández

These brothers painted small, tender scenes of children in the 1910s, often arranging them in soft circles or groups.

Museum

Cleveland Museum of Art

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