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

This is Etienne Carjat’s photographic print of Sarah Bernhardt as Doña Maira de Neubourg in Ruy Blas. It's a potent symbol of Bernhardt's complex identity, made within a society that both celebrated and scrutinized her fame. Bernhardt, a star of the Comédie Française, was known for her intense performances and unconventional lifestyle. She was a figure of glamour and controversy, embodying the shifting roles of women in the late 19th century. Here, as Doña Maira, she embodies both power and vulnerability. We see her in costume, highlighting the theatricality of identity itself. "I am an actress," she once declared, "and being an actress means being on display." Carjat's lens captures not just her image, but the persona she crafted. The photograph also reflects the cultural obsession with celebrity and the power of images to shape public perception. The print asks us to consider the performance of identity, the gaze of the audience, and the complex negotiation of fame and femininity in a rapidly changing world.