Unidentified Woman

Taken with a physiognotrace, this portrait was intended to record the sitter’s facial features, which in turn could be used to “read” her character. Although such interpretations are now considered inaccurate, a profile portrait can tell us other things. This subject’s headdress appears to be African in origin. As her portrait was found in an album of silhouettes that artist William Bache primarily produced in New Orleans, we can speculate that it was taken there. Bache’s album begins with silhouettes of George and Martha Washington.