Portret van Marie Lantelme c. 1880 - 1886

Curator: Welcome to the Rijksmuseum. We’re looking at "Portret van Marie Lantelme" by Nadar, likely created between 1880 and 1886. It’s a fascinating piece. Editor: Immediately, what strikes me is how staged it is. The floral Art Nouveau framing of this print, within this Paris-Artiste publication, speaks volumes about constructed femininity. Curator: Indeed. It's presented within a magazine context, suggesting the rise of celebrity culture. Nadar, famous for photographing Parisian luminaries, positions Lantelme within this developing media landscape. This magazine features all kinds of advertisements from beauty products to watches, which shows its popular reach. Editor: And this magazine context adds a layer of complexity. Consider Lantelme herself – she’s presented as an object of desire within this tableau. Who was she? Was she complicit in this commodification? Curator: Details on her identity are scarce. But Nadar's portraits often elevated subjects through association, and given the societal constraints on women at the time, their agency would often have been dictated by external forces. This places her not solely as a commodity but as part of the artistic circle this magazine tried to represent. Editor: Precisely. Her poised expression reads almost as defiance, and yet, she's still constrained within these artificial constructs and boundaries. Is it simply romanticising female empowerment, or making real demands of what women should get from a place in art and society? The answers could very well depend on who gets access to this magazine. Curator: That's insightful. Furthermore, it highlights the performative aspect of representation. As a photographer, Nadar capitalized on that tension between reality and presentation in an increasingly media saturated world. It is a beautiful etching that speaks volumes. Editor: Absolutely. Analyzing “Portret van Marie Lantelme” is a perfect example of art as cultural artefact. Curator: I agree completely. Hopefully our reflections provide insight into its layered complexity. Editor: Indeed. Art asks us as many questions as it answers. Thank you for your thoughts.