The White Nun 1856 - 1857

This albumen print, “The White Nun,” was made by Pierre-Louis Pierson sometime in the mid-19th century. The albumen process involved coating paper with egg white to create a glossy surface, before applying a light-sensitive silver nitrate solution. The resulting sepia tone gives the photograph a soft, ethereal quality, which nicely complements the subject. The sitter here is the Countess de Castiglione, a celebrity known for her extravagant costumes. Her dress, likely made of silk or fine linen, is meticulously constructed with layered tiers and a flowing train. Consider the labor involved in creating both the photographic print and the countess's attire. The albumen process, though innovative for its time, required careful preparation and handling of materials. Similarly, the dress would have demanded hours of skilled labor from seamstresses and textile workers. By considering these aspects, we can look beyond the image itself and appreciate the social and economic context in which it was created.