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

Andrés and Francisco Hernández (Costa Rican, active c. 1910s–30s)

1905–1915

Medium: gelatin silver print
Dimensions: Image: 15 x 23.9 cm (5 7/8 x 9 7/16 in.)
Genre: Photograph
Museum: Cleveland Museum of Art

Tags

Costa Rica

About

The Foto Imperio photography studio was run by Andrés and Francisco Hernández in San José, Costa Rica. The brothers also ran a bookstore and print shop, and Francisco was a successful cartoonist, too. Here they artfully arranged 35 children to create a group portrait commemorating a religious event—perhaps a Christmas pageant? The girl dressed as an angel holds a baby, while the girl and boy at her feet seem posed as if for a wedding portrait.