“Reclaiming the Past” 

 

My identity rests firmly on one thing: I am my mother’s daughter. As I transitioned into womanhood, I have become more like her. These similarities between my mother and me motivated my research into my genealogy. I am exploring the foundations of my identity with my female ancestors. This self-portraiture project is a historical recreation not only into my lineage but also of photography as a historical art form. Reclaiming the Past forges a new sense of self and purpose from the past to the present.  

Gwendolyn Courtney  

 

Two black and white portraits of a woman with short hair and a vintage blouse.
Side-by-side portraits. Left: Historical family photo of five individuals seated and standing in formal attire, with sepia tone and names handwritten below. Right: Woman in period dress sitting on a tufted couch, modern photography in sepia tone.
Two vintage kitchen photos of a woman wearing glasses, standing by a window with shelves and kitchen items in the background.
Two side-by-side vintage portrait photographs of a woman in profile, with braided hair and a decorative hairpin, wearing a collared blouse.
Vintage photos of a woman holding a baby outdoors next to a wooden building, wearing traditional early 20th-century attire.
Vintage portrait of a person in two different images, both wearing a dark outfit with a white collar and a large bow tie, set against a dark background.
Two black and white photos of a person wearing a long coat, dress, and wide-brimmed hat in a residential area.
Two vintage black and white photos of a woman standing outdoors with hands on hips, in front of stone archways and surrounded by trees.
Two side-by-side photos showing a person sitting on a bed in the same room. The photos are similarly composed, but differ in lighting and clarity. The person has long hair and is wearing a light-colored top and jeans. The room has green walls and a w
Two side-by-side images of a person wearing a dark coat standing in an outdoor landscape. The left image is slightly blurred, showing bare trees and grass; the right image is clearer, with some snow on the ground and more visible bushes.
Two similar photos side by side of a woman sitting on steps, wearing a white shirt and burgundy pants, touching her chin.