Portret van Sarah Bernhardt als Doña Maira de Neubourg in Ruy Blas before 1877

This is a portrait of Sarah Bernhardt, a famous French actress, by the French photographer Etienne Carjat. The photograph shows Bernhardt dressed in a costume for her role as Doña Maira de Neubourg in the play Ruy Blas, which is likely why the photograph was taken. Carjat was known for his portraits of famous figures in the arts, and he used a direct and realistic style in his photography. This small photograph from the Rijksmuseum is a snapshot of the glamorous world of French theater in the 19th century.