Marie Petipa dans le Diable à quatre 1861

This albumen print by André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri, titled *Marie Petipa dans le Diable à quatre*, captures ballerina Marie Petipa in a series of poses from the ballet *The Devil's in Four*. Disdéri was a pioneer of the carte de visite portrait, a format that gained immense popularity in the 19th century. The photo's format and subject reflect the Victorian era's fascination with performance and photography, particularly in the world of ballet. The image is a prime example of a photographic study of movement, capturing the grace and elegance of Petipa's performance.