Twintig portretten van acteurs en actrices before 1891

This is an unbound photograph from an album made by Nadar in France. It contains twenty portraits of actors and actresses. The proliferation of affordable photography was impacting the art world and French society at large. Photography offered new ways to document and disseminate images of individuals, especially those involved in public life. Nadar was not just a photographer but also a shrewd entrepreneur and social commentator. He understood the power of images in shaping public perception and celebrity culture. This album, with its multiple portraits, speaks to the growing accessibility of visual representation, and the increasing importance of the actor and actress in French society. To fully understand Nadar’s work, we look to sources like period journals, theatre reviews, and social commentaries. This helps us see the photograph not just as a collection of images, but as a reflection of the social and cultural dynamics of 19th-century France.