It's called a crayon and chalk portrait, and is a hand colored photo. The photography studio would make an underdeveloped photo then color it in by hand with colored chalk and crayon to make it resemble an art sketch or painting. It was a standard antique artsty style photo often used to make 1800s and early 1900s family portraits to be hung from the wall. They are usually large and were originally framed, often in oval bubble glass frames.
In many cases, the photographer would re-photograph his handy work and the final result would be monotone (sepia or black and white). However, if there are colors, as with yours, the original hand coloring is right there on the surface.
It's a very old fashioned style and type, and was largely discontinued not so long after 1911.
Last edited by drcy; 08-14-2014 at 01:05 PM.
|