Julia Arthur, born with the name Ida Lewis, began acting at a young age. She began her professional acting career with the Bandmann Company in 1880 and began going by her industry alias Julia Arthur. After her majorly successful role as the Queen in "The Black Masque" (1892), Arthur was cast in many more leading roles such as Ophelia, Juliet, and Lady MacBeth. Her clout in the industry translates in her dress in this photograph, as she wears a suit coat and narrow suspenders with ornate embellishments. The tilt of her silk-wrapped boater hat creates a shadow that nearly masks her right eye, intensifying her already stern gaze. Moreover, she looks directly at the camera in an upright pose. White streaks in the background applied by Hixon in the development process create a painterly effect around Arthur's figure, contrasting the rigidity of her demeanor.