Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Baby Grotefent (either Alica Mary born 1872, or, William Henry born 1874) held by mother Jane Grotefent (behind curtain)

Baby Grotefent (either Alica Mary born 1872, or, William Henry born 1874) held by mother Jane Grotefent (behind curtain)

1872
Glass photonegative

A&A studio photographers managed to steady their smaller clients by placing them in the comfort of their mother’s lap. The presence of the mother was concealed beneath dark cloth and later the image was cropped to mask her being there. However, seeing the whole negative gives the game away. Alice grew up to become a public schoolteacher at Hill End in 1890.

What Will You Do? – by Jill Jones

What is language but a cry

the plate does not record.

It is before and after –

accompaniment, out of phase.

What would crying do?

‘Where is mother?’

And the times will not afford

even the new gold times –

this money in dirt

not fixed here.

For now the universe

holds the child –

‘thank you mother’

you are somewhere

hidden but luminous

for now –

and what if

I cried out?

after Baby Grotefent (either Alica Mary born 1872, or, William Henry born 1874) held by mother Jane Grotefent (behind curtain) - a2823180