Nr. 4 (21) anul VI / octombrie-decembrie 2008 - ROMDIDAC

EX PONTO NR.4, 2008
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of arriving in the US. In the random pictures of the crowd, the Romanians can
be easily identified in their national costumes. In front of the camera, aware of
the fact that the picture would indelibly record their image, they posed showing
off their national costumes as well as their pride in wearing them much as
they might have displayed a national flag.
Comparing the photographs of Romanian women immigrants from the New
York Public Library archive with those of Queen Elizabeth of Romania or with
the prints from contemporary books about Romania, one may find surprisingly
similar poses. In order to display the most decorative parts of their costumes
(the sleeves and the top of the blouse) they put their hand on the hip allowing
the sleeve to show off. Or they carefully arranged their ample sleeves and
their beads before the photograph was taken. Because of their direct gaze
into the camera one knows that their consciously arranging themselves and
their costumes is significant to them.
There is only one postcard in which the
Queen does not look into the camera, but
somewhere in the distance; this unusual
posture indicates the Queen’s desire to
pretend that the photographer surprised her
immediately after she finished picking the flowers in her bouquet.