For years, rumors circulated that Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia survived the assassinations of the rest of her family. It’s since been disproved — her grave was discovered in 2007 — but the decades of mystery definitely intrigued the world and inspired multiple movies, books, musicals, and even a children’s book. Perhaps this is why we’re still so intrigued with the idea of Anastasia. And why this 1914 photograph is so intriguing.
From Wikipedia:
“Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna at the age of 13 was one of the first teenagers to take her own picture using a mirror to send to a friend in 1914. In the letter that accompanied the photograph, she wrote, “I took this picture of myself looking at the mirror. It was very hard as my hands were trembling.”
h/t Buzzfeed / Retronaut / Alexander Palace
