This is identified as a carte-de-visite from the 1860s.
Her facial appearance is made a bit more bizarre by the contrast created by the ruffed cap. I wonder what caused the extreme coarsening of her features. Myxedema? Acromegaly? A dermatological disorder? Any clinicians care to offer thoughts? At the source it's assumed to be normal old age.
Source: kmodil's Flickr photostream, via Historical Indulgences.
IMHO, this is nothing but geriatric masculinization. These are not acromegalic facies although the lengthened digits are suggestive.
ReplyDeletereminds me of this French comic figure: http://www.restaurationspirou.net/Couvertures/CarmenCru8_26082008_211614.jpg
ReplyDeleteTo me she resembles the actress who played in "Throw Mama from the Train."
ReplyDelete