Marie Petipa 1861

This is a photograph of Marie Petipa, taken by André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri in the 19th century. As a photographer, Disdéri became famous for popularizing the carte de visite, a small paper photograph mounted on a thicker card. What's remarkable is how this format democratized portraiture. Before, only the wealthy could afford to have their likeness captured in a painting. But the carte de visite, through the industrialization of photography, made images accessible to a wider public. This image captures Petipa in multiple poses, possible because of advancements in photographic technology. Each shot required careful preparation, from the chemical coating of the glass plate to the precise timing of the exposure. Consider, too, the labor involved – not just Disdéri's, but that of the factory workers who produced the photographic materials and the printers who churned out countless copies. This photograph, therefore, isn't just a portrait of a ballerina; it's a testament to the changing landscape of labor, politics, and consumption in the 19th century.