"Circasian Beauty" of the Bowery, Charles Eisenmann c. 1880s Carte de Visite manual of gymnastic exercises then varnished

then varnished

which was done very well and really disappears

Wonderfully folky and very charming I think

Lion and Wolf against bold blue on this one won my heart--including for leaving one to imagine the snouts of their faces poking through the holes

I find it completely wonder-inducing

"Circasian Beauty" of the Bowery, Charles Eisenmann c. 1880s Carte de Visite manual of gymnastic exercises then varnishedI didn't know about "Circasian Beauties" when I found this carte de visite photo by Charles Eisenmann, a well known New York Bowery district photographer of the 1880s, most (in)famous for his photographs of side show figures from the Barnum and Bailey circus, including "Siamese Twins" Chang and Eng, and "Jojo the Dog faced Boy." I've since learned a bit about the long history of fascination with "Circassian" women, and P. T Barnum's invention and