None 1850s - 1860s

This is a photographic print of a ballerina, made by André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri in the mid-19th century. This was a time of great change in the world of ballet, as women began to take center stage. Consider how ballet was evolving into a celebration of femininity, even as it demanded a rigid, almost inhuman discipline from its dancers. Here, we see the ballerina in multiple poses, as if caught in a series of fleeting moments. This reflects the rise of photography as a means of capturing and preserving moments in time. How does the formal structure of the photograph mirror the dancer’s physical and social constraints? There’s a tension here between the dancer’s individuality and the societal expectations placed upon her. As you look at this photograph, think about the complex interplay of gender, class, and art in the 19th century.