Photograph: Full-dress portrait of a Jewess from Tunisia

Jews

Tunisia

1870s

Museum of the Peoples of the USSR

Albumen print

19 x 24,5; 27,7 x 35

РЭМ 8764-22361

The woman is wearing traditional clothes of North African / Arabic Jews. “There are several types of Jews in North Africa – in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Tripoli… They are dressed almost the same as the local population, except for their clothes’ color, which is sometimes different, and their women do not wear a veil covering the face. On the whole, the Algerian and Tunisian Jewesses have a pleasant appearance, and many may be even called beautiful. Their large black eyes are very expressive, and their long black hair is fascinating. But their bodily constitution is simply horrible: most of them weigh over 200 pounds, and they are absolutely shapeless. However, in accordance with Oriental notions they are beautiful. A young girl who is not fat has no chance to get married.” (from M. Fishberg's book "The Jews: A Study of Race and Environment", 1911). The photograph was acquired in 1883 during the round-the-world voyage of Russian seamen in 1880-1883.