The subject matter of this photograph may be Mitzi Siess, a relation to the photographer, as stated by a German dealer selling an over-sized print of this plate measuring 47.0 x 36.0 cm.

Original copy for this entry posted to Facebook on February 15, 2012:

Art Nouveau, or Jugendstil in German speaking countries, showed up in many photographic forms, including fashion. This flower and plant form themed dress is worn by Mitzi Siess, believed to be the daughter of Austrian photographer Carl Siess, who took this photograph sometime before 1901. Looking back a century or more, fashion shows up in unexpected ways by Pictorialist photographers- in contrived genre studies featuring the poorest village maid or like here, a simple portrait of a belle of high society. Want to see more? Explore the tag keyword “Fashion” on the site.