Portrait of Seeley’s Sister

George H. Seeley’s sister sits in a romantic, dream-like setting on the bank of a river or pond. In spite of the title, this photograph does not resemble a typical portrait. The soft focus, delicate tone, and arched framing of the leaves above the figure’s head give the photograph a painterly feeling. Horizontal lines drawn across the negative add texture to the water. As a Pictorialist, George Seeley created photographs as an expressive art form rather than factual documentation.