Portret van Sophie Hamet als La Frochart in Les Deux Orphelines before 1874

This is a photograph of Sophie Hamet as La Frochart in Les Deux Orphelines by Etienne Carjat, dating back to the 19th century. Contained within the pages of what appears to be a theatrical journal, the image is bordered by an ornate frame, which is a common convention of the time. The composition of the image, combined with the texture of the photographic print, creates a stark, almost unsettling realism. Hamet's portrayal seems to challenge fixed meanings. We find her as an actress in costume but also as a person. It prompts us to question the nature of representation itself. The use of monochrome heightens the interplay of light and shadow, lending a theatrical gravitas. Hamet's gaze and costume, framed within this elaborate border, serve as a sign. A semiotic exploration of this work reveals codes of performance, identity, and the cultural context of 19th-century theatre. It's not just a portrait; it's a cultural artifact.