Eugina - Limited Edition 1 of 10 Photograph

These images were created from scanned 19th century tintypes that I appropriate and alter.  I name each woman so that she has her own identity. Women, during that era, were restricted to defined social norms and their identity was that of their husbands or fathers. In this series the women are enclosed in spheres. This refers to Darwin’s work in biological determination and the belief that women were the weaker sex. At the time it was believed that men and women inhabit separate spheres. A woman’s sphere was at home as wife and mother. If a woman desired to go beyond her sphere she found her choices limited. Botanical illustration was permitted, as long as it was to confirm the existence of God. Once the study progressed from illustration to science men stepped in.  This also occurred in other fields, for example medicine. Originally women, some known as healers and midwives were dependent upon for healing the sick. Eventually, as women gained too much knowledge, men again took over.  My use of plants combines both botany and medicine. Sometimes plants heal and sometimes they kill. Here I use poisonous plants. Though beautiful, these plants try holding these women "in place".   Luckily, women are strong and as we know, were not held in place.