Alphonse Daudet 

This is a photograph of Alphonse Daudet by Felix Nadar, made sometime in the mid-to-late 19th century. Nadar was well known for his portraits of prominent cultural figures, capturing writers and artists in their intellectual milieu. Consider Daudet's gaze, averted and contemplative, along with his somewhat disheveled hair and beard. Here is a man of letters, a thinker. Nadar presents us with a Romantic vision of the artist. However, this image exists within a very specific social context. Photography at this time was still a relatively new medium, one which rapidly democratized portraiture. Nadar was not merely documenting Daudet's likeness; he was actively constructing and disseminating an image of literary genius that both reflected and shaped cultural values. How might our reading of this image change if we consider the historical context of its production and consumption? Does it challenge or uphold traditional representations of masculinity and intellect?