J. Van Crewel Photographe / Anvers: Baby Portrait Art Nouveau (Vintage CDV ~1900s)

original vintage carte de visite (cdv) photo - no reprint!  

carte de visite photos were first introduced in 1854 and were replaced by the larger cabinet cards, in the early 1870s...

antique carte de visite (cdv) photograph by j. van crewel jeune, photographe brevete (patented photographer), 54 rue du pelican, anvers (antwerp), belgium. van crewel was awarded a silver medal at the 1881 rubens exposition and is a documented antwerp studio photographer in belgian photographic archives.

the reverse features an elaborate art nouveau design with flowing floral motifs and ornamental script, along with a printer's mark for l. gevaert & co, vieux dieu, a well known belgian photographic paper and card manufacturer.

the art nouveau styling and this later pelican street address (van crewel's studio moved several times, from no. 44 to no. 48 in 1882, and later to no. 54 as shown here) point to a dating of roughly 1895 to 1905.

the photograph shows a young baby wearing a white ruffled and lace trimmed garment, seated on an ornately upholstered studio bench with tasseled trim, resting on a carved stone style plinth, legs dangling, a charming and technically accomplished studio composition. sitter is unidentified.

albumen or gelatin silver print mounted on card stock in the standard cdv format. overall condition is good for its age with light general wear.

a lovely example of belgian studio photography and art nouveau graphic design, appealing to collectors of antique baby and children's portraits, belgian photography history, or art nouveau ephemera

condition: very good...please also refer to scan which show complete front and reverse of photo.

fotografie, photograph, photographe, kabinettformat, cabinet photo, foto, kabinett photo, cdv, carde de visite, albumen silver print, tirage albuminé, kid, victorian era, sweet