Belgian lacemaker

A hand-coloured carte-de-visite portrait of a Belgian lacemaker.

This woman’s costume and the lace-pillow under her arm [a cushion held on the knees when making lace] reveal her country of origin and her occupation. Traditional occupations such as spinning, hay-making and milking were often suggested in this type of photograph by a ball of yarn, a hay-rake or a milk pail incorporated into the studio arrangement or simply held in the sitter's hand.

Photographer unidentified [reverse is blank].