19th-Century Hand-Colored Albumen Photograph – European Fish Seller with Shoulder Yoke and Market Baskets

Original 19th-century hand-colored albumen print, mounted on early card stock, depicting a European fish vendor in traditional working attire. The woman is shown standing with a wooden shoulder yoke balanced across her back, suspending two large woven baskets—one of which contains a visible catch of fish. She holds a shallow market basket in her gloved hand and wears a dark red blouse, blue skirt, and white head covering, all delicately tinted by hand.

This image is a striking example of occupational ethnographic photography from the Victorian era, likely produced in France, Germany, or Belgium. These hand-tinted photos were often sold to collectors or tourists interested in rural trades and folk customs. The photographic style, neutral backdrop, and coloring technique are consistent with studio work from the 1860s–1880s.

The print shows expected foxing, edge wear, and a few tonal shifts in the albumen layer, all typical of its age. Despite its modest size, the hand-applied color remains vivid—particularly in the basket detail and the subject’s clothing—capturing the essence of everyday life and working-class labor in 19th-century Europe.