Euphrosyne Parepa-Rosa (1836-1874) 1858 - 1869

This is a photograph of Euphrosyne Parepa-Rosa, an English operatic soprano, made by Jeremiah Gurney, a leading photographer in the United States, during the 19th century. The photograph is a carte-de-visite, a small portrait that became wildly popular in the mid-19th century as a means of mass communication and personal connection. These photographs reflect the social and cultural values of the time, particularly concerning celebrity, class, and gender. The operatic stage was a new space for women to obtain a certain amount of social freedom and personal wealth. Parepa-Rosa’s elegant pose is a deliberate construction, intended to convey respectability, but we can see something of her independence in her gaze. Historians can use resources like letters, reviews, and biographical accounts to reconstruct the life and times of Parepa-Rosa. By considering the conditions in which this photograph was made and circulated, we gain a richer understanding of its cultural significance.