Saturday, June 16, 2012

Edith Minturn and Her Elbows




Sort of sounds like an Eric Rohmer film (Claire's Knee) by way of David Cronenberg.

These two Edith Minturns have more in common than their names (Edith Minturn Stokes, above, painted by John Singer Sargent; Edith Minturn Sedgwick, right, photographed by Gianni Penati).

It's their shared elbow, thrust out insouciantly, as well as their rather bold dressing: shirt, tie, and boater for Mrs. E. M. Stokes, bodysuit and floral Givenchy stockings for Ms. E. M. Sedgwick. 

And maybe there's also a glint of social defiance in their bright eyes.

1 comment:

WendyB said...

Ah, I love both these pictures.