Portret van Maurice Rollinat 1888

This is a photographic portrait of Maurice Rollinat, made around 1875 by an unknown artist. The image offers a glimpse into the cultural landscape of late 19th-century France, a period marked by significant social and artistic change. Rollinat, a poet and performer, was part of a bohemian subculture that thrived in the margins of bourgeois society. The photograph, with its informal composition, can be seen as a rejection of traditional academic portraiture, reflecting a broader shift toward realism and individualism in the arts. Rollinat’s association with figures like George Sand and his performances at venues like the Chat Noir cabaret exemplify the era’s vibrant artistic scene. Understanding this image requires us to examine the social networks and artistic institutions that shaped Rollinat’s career. By consulting archives, literary journals, and contemporary accounts, we can uncover the complex web of relationships that defined the cultural production of his time. Ultimately, this portrait reminds us that art is always embedded in a specific social and institutional context.