The Madame B Album c. 1870s

Marie-Blanche Hennelle Fournier created "The Madame B Album" using albumen silver print in the 19th century. Fournier, born in France, lived through a time of significant social upheaval and change, as well as the rise of photography as both an art form and a tool for documentation. The arrangement of portraits around a central image of a cityscape gives the feeling of a family tree or a constellation. It evokes questions about lineage, legacy, and how individuals position themselves within their social circles. Each portrait, framed within a decorative border, presents a carefully constructed image of bourgeois identity, reflecting the values and aspirations of the emerging middle class. In a society that often relegated women to the domestic sphere, Fournier asserted herself as a professional photographer, navigating the challenges and opportunities of her time. "The Madame B Album" is not merely a collection of portraits; it is a reflection of the complex interplay between individual identity, social status, and the transformative power of photography.