Double exposure depicting a large African American man, attired in a cap, a short-sleeved shirt torn at the elbows, and an apron. He leans on a ledge and crosses his hands while smoking a pipe and looks to the right in the first exposure and to the left in the other, creating the illusion of "Two Dromios" or twins. Dromio was the name of enslaved twins in Shakespeare's, "Comedy of Errors.", Title from manuscript note by photographer., Signed by photographer on verso., Gift of Elsie Wood Harmon, 1982., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014., Wood, a Philadelphia artist, turned to photography in the 1880s exhibiting his work, including genre studies of African Americans, at national and international photography exhibitions. His photographs won several prizes.
Creator
Wood, George Bacon, 1832-1909, photographer
Date
[ca. 1885]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Wood [P.8743.187]
Genre scene depicting an older African American woman, attired in a head kerchief, a long-sleeved, patterned dress, and a striped apron, smoking a pipe. She is seated on the steps to the open doorway of her dilapidated, wooden house surrounded by her three young grandchildren who intently watch her. A small, barefooted girl, attired in a dress and a torn and worn jacket, sits with her legs stretched out across the bottom step. A barefooted boy, attired in a shirt, a jacket, and shorts, sits on the next up above with his right leg crossed over his left knee and looks up at his grandmother. Standing in the doorway is a girl, attired in a dress, a jacket, and shoes, who looks down with her hands at her side., Photographer's imprint stamped on mount., Title from manuscript note by photographer on verso., Signed by photographer on verso., Manuscript note on verso: No. 4. Class A., Gift of Elsie Wood Harmon, 1982., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014., Wood, a Philadelphia artist, turned to photography in the 1880s exhibiting his work, including genre scenes of African Americans, at national and international photography exhibitions. His photographs won several prizes.
Creator
Wood, George Bacon, 1832-1909, photographer
Date
[ca. 1886]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo - Wood [P.8743.529]