The Madame B Album c. 1870s

Marie-Blanche Hennelle Fournier created “The Madame B Album” using watercolor on paper sometime in the 19th century. Hennelle Fournier, who was working at a time when women artists were often confined to domestic subjects, offers us a deeply intimate glimpse into the rituals of remembrance. The album page combines delicate botanical illustrations with what appear to be carte-de-visite portraits, a popular form of photography at the time. The apple blossoms evoke themes of beauty, fragility, and the passage of time, setting a melancholic tone as they intertwine with the portraits of Madame B. These are not formal depictions, but rather tender, almost dreamlike sketches, capturing Madame B in moments of contemplation. This album page is more than just a collection of portraits; it’s an exploration of memory, identity, and the emotional bonds between women in a society that often overlooked their inner lives. It invites us to reflect on the personal and societal values we place on remembering and honoring the lives of those around us.