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

c. 1910s

Andrés and Francisco Hernández

(Costa Rican, active c. 1910s–30s)

Culture

Costa Rica

Medium

gelatin silver print

Measurements

Image: 15 x 23.9 cm (5 7/8 x 9 7/16 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Michael F. Resch 2022.342

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

Portraits are the bread-and-butter business of most photography studios.

Description

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.