Empress Eugénia 1860s

This hand-colored photograph captures Empress Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III, and was made by André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri, a photographer who found success in the French court. As a European royal, Eugénie embodied an image of power, femininity, and fashion. Yet, she was also a figure of Spanish descent navigating the complexities of the French aristocracy. In this portrait, she is captured seated at a table, an intimate domestic scene which softens the notion of imperial power and offers a more personal glimpse into the life of the Empress. The hand-coloring enhances the details of her elaborate dress, accentuating the textures and patterns, highlighting the artistry of both the photographer and the Empress as a symbol of beauty and grace. Disdéri's work invites us to reflect on the performative aspects of identity and the ways in which photography can both capture and construct our perceptions of historical figures.