Tatiana always seems so unearthly, elfine in all her photographs, no matter if they are from early 1900s or the war. Her sisters were all very much real-looking, but she looks strangely fairy-like all the time.
Truly and well said. Well done, Ally for your analysis. What would you tell about OMA's expressions and impressions in the photos, from your point of a view?
Whenever I see a picture of Olga the word that strucks me is "melancholy". There is something proud about her face too, but it is not the disdainful pride, more of the inborn intimacy with Imperial splendour. In many pictures taken after 1914 she looks trapped somehow.
Maria is, to me, the most perfect representation of "traditional" Russian beauty. I seem to recall a quote by certain madame Ofrosima, which described Maria as an image of ancient boyarinas with kokoshnik on her head and draped in sarafan. Her face is always non-pretentious and so easy to read. Maria was as honest as you could imagine, not able (or not willing) to put on the regal, distant expression. There is sweetness, genuine interest. Or utter boredom. Depends on the occassion really.
Anastasia, so often squinting her eyes in pictures, has always come off as a tomboy. My impressions, which really are just personal view on what the girls could have been like, do not differ from the general view that she was very energetic and rarely could stand still. There was always something on her mind - something mischievous I am sure.
