Photograph of performing showgirls

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of five (5) female performers dancing on stage in a circle. Two (2) of the performers, depicted on the right, are turned towards the left edge of the image. Laura Cathrell is depicted between, them facing the viewer. The two (2) performers on the left side of the image have their backs to the viewer. Four (4) of the performers, including Cathrell, are wearing identical costumes that include dark short satiny skirts, matching cropped tops with ruffled shirt sleeves, and matching top hats with bows perched slightly askew. The fifth performer is wearing a white sleeveless dress with a satiny bodice and a tiered ruffled skirt. In the left foreground are two women in the audience. An inscription in black ink on the back of the photograph reads, [This is the picture/ Mr. Sydney gave me to / give to you.].

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