Circus Performer Irene Woodward, circa 1885

01

Artifact Overview

Irene Woodward, also known as "La Belle Irene," is pictured in this cabinet card. During Woodward's stage career, she billed herself as "The Original Tatooed Lady," appearing at Bowery district dime museums like Bunnell's, and went on tours of Europe. Woodward's tattoos were inked by tattoo pioneer Samuel O'Reilly and his apprentice, Charles Wagner.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Cabinet photograph

Subject Date

circa 1885

Creators

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

93.51.15

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)
Cardboard

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 6.438 in
Width: 4.188 in

Inscriptions

front, printed: Kenshel Instantaneous Art Portraits, New Studios, 3136 Cottage Grove Avenue Chicago