Eyes without a face, Contact print from Glass Negative

[Inayat Noor]

Attached are two images. One is an antique negative we have had forever. And the contact print made from the negative. The only information on the glass negative is the framer, Lawson and Juhl who are still around today. I found it odd there were no eyes on the model. The rest seems okay.

Has anyone seen this before? Is there a way I can research this to find out its origin? I may try printing this again and burn in the eyes.

Also, is there a market to where I could sell the negative?

Thanks

 

[Inayat Noor]

Negative size is 11 X 14.

 

[cramej]

Most of that is awfully degraded retouching and is probably an enlarged copy negative from the original. The eyes would most likely have been drawn back in on a print. As for the market for such a negative, there isn't much of one for something in such poor condition with an unknown model and unknown photographer.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Another hypothesis: this is a retouching layer that would be combined with the camera negative. It would adjust the tones, remove scratches, maybe add some mood/expression, extra texture, etc.

Just like Photoshop. That way you don't risk damaging the original negative, and you have more options to work the image with aerograph, paintbrushes, etc.

I suspect the reason why you don't have the eyes is that they are on the camera negative, and usually the point where focus is set. So you print the negative first (probably lightly), then you lay on the retouching layer over the image and re-expose. Or maybe you need to do an interpositive first, and then you-recombine, etc.

It could be for darkroom use, or maybe for pre-press work. Retouching could get quite sophisticated in the analog era.

Still, a very cool artefact.

 

[gone]

You could use a tiny brush and some paint or ink to put some eyes in. Just a touch w/ the brush would do it. I would practice a bit first, then try it on the print w/ a cloth at the ready to wipe it off if it goes weird. After it dries, either use a razor tip to "flick" the pupils, or use the point of a pin touched in white paint.

 

[AnselMortensen]

Interesting image!
I appreciate the Billy Idol reference, as well.