[Portrait of a Butcher]

A vintage cabinet photograph of a travelling butcher with his horse-drawn cart

An albumen paper cabinet photograph (102 × 150 mm), mounted as issued on a plain card.

The photographer is not identified, but we suggest he was a travelling photographer working in South Australia, circa 1890s. The butcher is framed between two dead trees in a fairly harsh environment, with a basic dwelling in the distance. He is wearing a long apron as he sharpens a knife next to the rear of his cart; its back door is open, and large pieces of meat are clearly visible inside. Some tiny brown spots on the surface of the photograph (some wag here suggests it's fly-blown) do not detract from this unusual and evocative period-piece.

Item #102330

Price (AUD): $400.00
other currencies