Queen of the May
1875
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1875
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a woman dressed in a long, flowing gown, posing in a garden. She's posing as the Queen of the May, a figure from English folklore. The photo is special because the subject, Emily Peacock, was a servant or neighbor who was asked to model for the photo. To learn more about this style of photography, look up the technique of chiaroscuro.
